As of: February 28, 2024, 4:34 p.m
By: Jörg Domke
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Michael Stolze, outgoing mayor of Markt Schwaben, at a consultation meeting on the planned asylum accommodation.
© Stephan Goerlich
Our author believes that Michael Stolze's resignation should at least serve as a wake-up call regarding political culture in Markt Schwaben.
The tone has suffered recently.
An opinion piece.
Michael Stolze, Mayor of Markt Schwaben, surprised even the insiders with his resignation.
Apparently worn down by the fact that his job at the top of the local government had recently become much more political than the otherwise dynamic businessman had imagined.
The somewhat strange course of the most recent council meeting, in which the plenary session had to determine the illegality of a citizens' initiative regarding asylum accommodation, was perhaps the icing on the cake before his decision to resign yesterday.
Unfortunately, Stolze recently had to realize - with increasing reluctance - that a mayor's job is not for someone who first defines himself as a hard worker.
The issue of asylum showed that a town hall leader is also required to think politically and be prepared to take part in one or two skirmishes.
But Stolze never wanted to be the type of politician.
He always communicated this in a small circle.
Nevertheless, the 54-year-old's human nature has earned him a lot of sympathy - in a place where, unfortunately, in recent years it has become increasingly normal for someone somewhere to always have something to criticize - out of principle and often at the expense of the appropriate tone.
Swabian local politics urgently needs a return to more empathy, more mutual respect and more humanity.
Immediately.
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