As of: February 25, 2024, 10:40 a.m
By: Andreas Seiler
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Split
Have joined forces to form a faction: the local councilors Lilian Edenhofer and Martin Sielmann.
© Mayr
The issue is complicated, the political explosiveness is enormous: it's about committee seats that the new Free and Liberal faction for Garmisch-Partenkirchen is claiming for itself.
The local council didn't really get any further on the sensitive issue.
The administrative court will probably have to speak out.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Garmisch-Partenkirchen's local council is known for circling around itself.
This was also the case in the emotionally charged meeting.
Many representatives shook their heads in frustration.
And Mayor Elisabeth Koch (CSU), visibly annoyed, said to the group: “The dignity of this house is being damaged.”
The reason was the struggle for committee seats.
These play an important role in political operations, as local development issues can be set and decision-making can be influenced in the committees that often provide preliminary advice.
Does the luck of the draw have to decide?
So far, local councilors Martin Sielmann (FDP) and Lilian Edenhofer (independent) have not been represented there as individual fighters.
But in her opinion the starting position has now changed: The political duo - the Liberal and the former hopeful of the Free Voters are known for their fundamental opposition - joined forces last year to form the new Free and Liberal faction for Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
And as such, they are now demanding to be taken into account in the distribution of seats in the committees.
Calculating these mandates is a science in itself.
Should there actually be a redistribution, the luck of the draw would have to decide among the small factions - and one group might then come away empty-handed.
This explains the explosiveness of the dispute.
In addition, the legal situation is extremely confusing for the layperson - and apparently not clear.
It's about legal subtleties.
A lot of paragraphs and interpretations were heard at the meeting in the town hall.
To put it simply, the sticking point is this: After a legal supervisory complaint from Sielmann, the district office came to the conclusion that the distribution of committee seats actually needs to be redetermined because a parliamentary group has been added.
The market town, however, has a different opinion - and claims to rely on current case law: Sielmann and Edenhofer, it is argued, would have to turn to a new electorate in order to have a right to the seats.
This would be the case, for example, if Edenhofer joined the FDP or Sielmann left it.
Variants that, however, categorically exclude the mayor's two arch-rivals.
And now?
The local council decided to hear Sielmann and Edenhofer again in the complicated case and to keep the option of legal action open.
The two people affected did not take part in the vote and demonstratively left the meeting room for a few minutes.
It is likely that it will result in proceedings before the administrative court.
Exchange of blows in the meeting
The meeting resulted in the expected exchange of blows in which the different points of view clashed.
“You are on the wrong track,” grumbled Sielmann to the municipal administration.
“There are a lot of precedents.” In his opinion, the town hall is just playing for time “because we are the opposition.”
Community leader Koch, on the other hand, emphasized that the matter had to be clarified legally in order to protect the interests of the small factions that are already represented in the committees.
Every local councilor can participate in the committees and participate in discussions, even without an official seat. Dr.
Markus Wäckerle (CSB) and Daniel Schimmer (Free Voters).
Green Party spokesman Dr.
Stephan Thiel.
You should try to find an amicable solution - perhaps with the help of the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior.
Anton Hofer (Garmisch+Partenkirchen together) exploded: “It is absurd to take legal action.
Is it worth the effort?” In his opinion, the lottery process would be the easiest.
Hofer: “We have to draw a line in the sand.”