Five SPD Members Kicked Out of Hamburg-Harburg District Assembly
SPD faction in Harburg expels five members: Removal due to alleged violations of party regulations - Authority Requests Proposal for Directive on Commission Matters
No mincing words, the SPD fraction in the Hamburg-Harburg district assembly has booté five of its 15 members for being reckless, dodging work, and siding with the AfD. The expelled bunch dismantled the negotiated red-red-green coalition by intentionally skipping their duties and thwarting the re-election of district administrator Sophie Fredenhagen.
Now the SPD fraction numbers 10 out of the assembly's 51 seats
In the June 9, 2024, Hamburg district assembly election, the SPD was the front-runners in Harburg with 28.4% of the votes, securing 15 seats. CDU snagged 12, Greens 8, and AfD 7. The Left got 4, Volt 3, and FDP 2. With the five expelled members out of the picture, the red-red-green coalition can't muster a majority.
SPD fraction ruler, Frank Richter, stated, "The SPD in the district assembly is a reliable force, shaping Harburg. Those who obstruct don't belong to us." He further declared, "Those who prioritize personal goals over the party's mission, aligning with the AfD, can't share our table."
Expelled members say nay to the charges, claiming their absences were justified and their committee work was solid. Regarding the alleged collaboration with the AfD, it was about a secret voting option for a committee chair. All factions, including AfD, voted for it. "To publicly brand us as buddies with the AfD now, despite the secret vote proposal being accepted by our leaders, is politically dishonest," the expelled members retorted.
Benizar Gündogdu, one of the expelled, spoke to the German Press Agency, stating, "We're SPD members, and we'll continue representing the party." She appealed to her fellow party members, "We need to stick together through thick and thin."
- The expelled SPD members claimed that their absences from their duties were justified and their committee work was solid.
- The expelled SPD members were accused of sidestepping responsibilities and allying with the AfD, which hindered the re-election of district administrator Sophie Fredenhagen.
- The coalition government, consisting of the SPD, Greens, and Left, can no longer muster a majority in the Hamburg-Harburg district assembly due to the dismissal of five SPD members.
- After being expelled, Benizar Gündogdu, one of the expelled members, stated that she would continue to represent the SPD and appealed to her fellow party members to stick together in the face of adversity.
