Bremen Left take stock: progress and challenges after two years

Bremen Left take stock: progress and challenges after two years

This Saturday, June 21, 2025, the Bremen Left will take stock at its party conference after two years of red-green-red coalition under the leadership of Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD). There is a lively exchange in the city about the goals achieved so far, with the party noting that many projects have either been successfully implemented or at least initiated. However, there are also areas where progress has been slower than expected. These topics are at the center of the discussions: participation in the Federal Council, drug help, climate protection and affordable housing. In addition, other relevant proposals on urban development, protection against patriarchal violence and the introduction of a payment card will be on the table, as stern.de reports.

With the general election in May 2019, the SPD, the Greens and the Left backed a government alliance that has since dedicated itself to the challenges of the pandemic and urban development. The coalition agreement was signed on August 13, 2019 and laid the foundation for cooperation that has brought numerous measures to life. From the beginning, the corona pandemic represented an obstacle that influenced the coalition's ambitious goals, he said Weser courier.

Progress in specific areas

The government has initiated a number of projects in the area of ​​construction and urban development: a GmbH for better coordination of inner city development was founded, and projects such as the Tauwerkquartier and Ellener Hof have either been completed or are being implemented. However, ambitious goals such as the creation of 10,000 new apartments are on the agenda; So far only 3,273 units have been realized in 2020 and 2021. In addition, the social housing quota for new building projects was increased to 30 percent. The first bicycle zone in the Neustadt has been opened and the foundations for future tram lines have been laid.

• Erreichte Ziele:
  • Gründung einer GmbH zur Innenstadtentwicklung.
  • Fertigstellung des Tauwerkquartiers.
  • Eröffnung der ersten Fahrradzone.
• Offene Punkte:
  • Planung von Fuß- und Radverkehrsbrücken steht aus.
  • Geringer Umsetzungsstand bei Radpremiumrouten.

Initiatives have been launched to combat inequality, particularly in the social sector. This includes the state program “Living Quarters”, which is endowed with 2.2 million euros, as well as aid projects for children who are exposed to domestic violence. The need for action is also evident in the education sector: despite equipping all students and teachers with tablets and abolishing tuition fees for long-term students, many places in daycare centers and schools still remain unfilled.

There is room for improvement in many sectors

But despite all the progress, it turns out that there are still a few things wrong. The 2025 science plan falls short of the original financial announcements, and an independent complaints office for civil conflicts with the police has not yet been introduced. The pressure is particularly high in the area of ​​health, as the target value for the distribution of the medical workforce in Bremen is still pending and there are signs of staff reductions in the Geno hospitals.

The green-red-red coalition has also committed itself to climate protection by phasing out coal-fired power generation and creating a financial framework for climate policy measures. But here too, progress is only partially visible; the climate reservation for important Senate decisions is also waiting to be implemented.

The coming discussions will show whether the Bremen Left can set the right course given this mixed outcome. At a time when not only financial conditions, but also public conflicts and social justice are being put to the test, the upcoming party conference will have to provide important impulses for the next few years. Let's look forward to the next steps in Bremen, because there is still a lot to do here and a good hand is needed!