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Democracy in Braunsbedra - Difficult to Impossible?The question of a citizens’ survey regarding the photovoltaic system in Braunsbedra remains unresolved. On May 15, 2024, this issue is back on the city council’s agenda. 
The Braunsbedra Citizens’ Initiative once again calls for a large turnout at the upcoming city council meeting on May 15, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. The goal remains to achieve a citizens’ survey on the use of agricultural land for large solar parks. So far, attempts have been made to conduct the survey alongside the upcoming local elections. This could have been decided at the city council meeting on April 17, 2024. However, this item was not on the agenda. According to Mayor Steffen Schmitz, this was not necessary. As a result, several councilors left the meeting, rendering the city council unable to make decisions. The meeting was subsequently adjourned. There would have been an opportunity to convene a new city council meeting the following week due to the urgency, but this was apparently avoided. On May 15, 2024, this topic, among many others, is back on the agenda. The Braunsbedra Citizens’ Initiative urges citizens to show up in large numbers—also to ask questions. A citizens’ survey during the upcoming local elections on June 9, 2024, is certainly not happening, as there is too little time to provide the necessary ballots to those wishing to vote by mail. Mayor Schmitz continues to cite legal concerns regarding a citizens’ survey. In his view, the municipal constitution does not permit it. The proposal would be unlawful, and he recommended that the city council reject it. According to an article in the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, the city council must formulate the questions. In this case, however, the citizens would do so together with the administration. There is also a fear that a citizens’ initiative could jeopardize the entire photovoltaic system project in the Krumpa district. According to the mayor, the formulation of the question for the citizens’ survey must be done in collaboration with the city council and the investor. It also remains unclear who would bear the costs of a citizens’ survey. This point was not included in the current proposal. Opinion: It is reasonable to assume that the city would have to cover the costs of citizens’ surveys. It would have been sensible to combine this with the local elections, which is now impossible due to the previous approach. This raises the question of whether the citizens’ survey might not be conducted for cost reasons. Can or does Braunsbedra perhaps not want to finance this form of democracy? From a purely democratic perspective, it would be best for the mayor, given the insistence of numerous citizens, not to obstruct a corresponding citizens’ survey. He could sit back and let the citizens decide. If the decision favors solar parks on agricultural land, they can be built. If the decision is against it, the mayor can refer to this citizens’ vote. That would be a textbook example of functioning democracy, especially since many people have already lost trust in democracy. The division in Braunsbedra over this issue would also come to an end. On Facebook, there are comments suggesting that the solar park project is already a done deal, as work on it has already begun. It would only need to be rubber-stamped by the city council. If there are indeed such or other entanglements, this would explain the mayor’s efforts to preferably prevent the citizens’ survey. From my own experience, I know that when politics and/or administration desperately want something, laws that oppose such projects are preferably ignored or deliberately disregarded. Procedural errors can be rectified later, legal concerns are dismissed as irrelevant, and unlawful actions are deemed acceptable. It operates on the principle: where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge. However, when politics and administration do not want something, laws suddenly become extremely important and must be strictly adhered to. It then becomes about numerous nitpicky details that must absolutely be observed and considered. Excuses are sought to avoid stating the real reasons. Or it fails due to financing because the money isn’t there. In such cases, administrations and politics also prove to be masters at playing for time, trying to let the matter fizzle out or be decided sometime in the future—preferably when facts have already been established, and there’s no turning back. I have the impression that this is exactly what’s happening here. It is now up to the city councilors, but also the mayor, to decide how they position themselves on May 15, 2024. Democracy in the interest of the population or nitpicking? Articles from Mitteldeutsche Zeitung on this topic: City Council: That was sneaky – Agri-PV system continues to stir strong emotions Setback for solar project – In the Großkayna local council, the first decision on the planned Agri-Photovoltaic system by AVG Mücheln is postponed Cancellation is not a democratic option – Eight Braunsbedra city councilors have published an open letter Author: AI-Translation - Michael Thurm | vor dem 01.07.2024 |
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