Gracial factions cost Schwerin over a quarter of a million euros in the half year!
Gracial factions cost Schwerin over a quarter of a million euros in the half year!
The political landscape in Schwerin is diverse, but it also has its price. In the second half of 2024, the work of the seven factions in the city council in Schwerin cost around 266,000 euros. This sum not only covers the salaries of the parliamentary group employees, but also room rents and IT equipment that is necessary for voluntary work. According to their membership status, each faction is available to fulfill their tasks. But what does that mean specifically for the Schwerin?
The city council consists of 45 members, 43 of whom are organized in six factions, while two remain without a political group. The political groups are voluntary mergers of at least four members who shape the local political fortunes of their city. The effort not only has a financial impact, but also ideally: according to [Schwerin.news] (https://schwerin.news/2025/21/was-fractions-den-Schweriner-steuer-in-den-stechmen-2024-kosten/comment-page-1/) the political activities supported. In the usual tariff frame for the public service, salaries are paid directly from the city budget, which reduces the burdens of the political groups.
cost in detail
In detail, it can be seen that over 192,000 euros were spent on parliamentary group staff in the six months. The individual editions are made up of different items: the room rents in the town house amount to around 36,000 euros and include costs for heating, electricity, cleaning and renovation. IT services of over 13,000 euros were also used that cover computers, tablets and software. So it is no wonder that the CDU bears the highest cost load with just under 61,000 euros, followed by the left and the AfD with around 51,000 and 49,000 euros each. The SPD is the most economical at around 23,000 euros.- CDU: Almost 61,000 euros
- Die Linke: about 51,000 euros
- AfD: About 49,000 euros
- Greens: A good 32,000 euros
- SPD: around 23,000 euros
- FDP/Independent citizens: together almost 50,000 euros
The parliamentary groups also received money donations at the amount of just under 23,000 euros. That sounds positive at first, but the current test report showed minor irregularities, such as the acquisition of breakfast through the Greens for 180 euros, which is not permitted. The SPD had to repay a donation of 80 euros that was not permitted, while the FDP/independent citizen misused 100 euros. Invoices were also issued on private individuals at the CDU and the FDP/independent citizens, which raises additional questions.
challenges of local politics
Andrea Mischke, a member of the city council, clearly sums it up: Almost every second volunteer local politician in Germany has already experienced hostility, be it through mob or even assault. According to [Die Zeit] (https://www.zeit.de/politik/2024-01/ehrenamt-kommunalpolitik-s engagement), many fear that the commitment at the local level will become unattractive and that the influx of candidates disappears, which endangers an important aspect of democracy. And here the volunteering comes into play: Despite the challenges, many local politicians see their commitment as an opportunity to initiate local changes and influence their own living environment.
So it remains to be hoped that the political actors in Schwerin can result in strengthened these challenges and that they can continue to fulfill their important role in the design of the city in the future. It is a difficult but worthwhile undertaking. After all, it turns out that in local politics not only money, but above all commitment and passion are required.
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| Ort | Schwerin, Deutschland |
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