Local government leaders could be selected by the Senate

Senate has the power to establish district administrative bodies. - Senate has the authority to designate district chiefs

In the heart of Germany, the political landscape of Hamburg is undergoing a significant shift. Kaja Steffens, a member of the Hamburg Parliament (Bürgerschaft), representing the CDU faction, has voiced her concerns about the proposed changes to the District Administration Act.

According to Steffens, the independence of the districts is a high good for the CDU. This independence is now facing new challenges, as the district offices grapple with digitalization, skilled labor shortages, and the increasing expectations of a modern and service-oriented administration.

Andreas Dressel, the senator responsible for the districts, has announced these changes, stating that they are the starting point for the red-green government's program. The District Administration Act reform is at the centre of these changes.

The proposed change would allow the Senate to appoint district administration heads in case of long deadlocks in reappointment. However, this plan has been met with opposition from the CDU, the largest opposition party in the Hamburg Parliament.

Kaja Steffens, the spokeswoman for the Citizens' Assembly faction responsible for the districts, has expressed her concerns about the Senate's plans. She warns that the Senate's involvement could lead to direct influence on the political decisions of the district assembly and the measures decided therein.

If a new head is not elected by the district assembly within nine months after the end of the term, the Senate would have the authority to appoint a suitable candidate. This, according to Steffens, could threaten the independence of the districts.

Steffens suggests that political decisions in the district could be delayed until the Senate implements the personnel it considers appropriate as district administration head. Before the Senate's decision, the district assembly would need to be heard, a process that Steffens believes is crucial for maintaining the independence of the districts.

The CDU has expressed its firm rejection of this form of political influence. Steffens believes that further hollowing out of the districts could occur as a result of the Senate's proposal. The CDU sees the current initiative as a threat to the independence of the districts and is calling for a reconsideration of the proposed changes to the District Administration Act.

The Hamburg Senate has submitted a draft to the Citizens' Assembly for a change in the District Administration Act. The fate of this draft and the future of the districts in Hamburg remains to be seen.