Interview with SPD-OB Candidate Josef Neumann Appears Unfeasible
Step into Solingen's Political Landscape: Shadows of Secrecy or Cry for Transparency?
Localpolitics in Solingen have been under the spotlight recently, with the SPD's mayoral candidate, Josef Neumann, voicing concerns about transparency. He passionately declares, "If we, the politicians, don't take our responsibilities seriously, who will? Instead of demanding transparency after the fact, question yourselves - why wasn't it there in the first place? By posing the right questions in committees and meetings."
Unfortunately, the murky waters of politics in Solingen seem to date back to the Rule of the Red-Green coalition. Shrouded in secrecy, more and more topics began to surface in non-public spheres, with new societies formed left and right - from the Bathing Society to School Construction Society. The influence of politics over these newly established societies has weakened significantly under the Red-Green regime. Not only did the coalition adopt this state of affairs, but they apparently desired it.
The Citizens' Community for Solingen e.V. (BfS) has fireballed numerous inquiries to the administration in various committees, only to receive answers that barely passed as satisfying - or, sadly, none at all. A healthy opposition relies on the right to ask questions, yet under the Red-Green rule, it seems this privilege has been systematically disregarded.
Even the decisions made by committees, such as the infamous "Traffic Relief Concept Solingen West," have mysteriously gone unimplemented. Some claim the administration has morphed into a self-appointed entity during the Red-Green regime, with questions being ignored, or addressed only after constant, relentless badgering - and even then, not always efficiently.
Martin Bender, the leading candidate of the Citizens' Community for Solingen e.V. (BfS), describes the predicament: "The reign of the Red-Green coalition has led to a power-hungry administration that does not respect politics by treating it like a feudal fiefdom. Conversations and decisions are either unanswered or, when they are, implemented in a frustrating, circuitous manner. The SPD, including Josef Neumann, should share responsibility for enabling this dysfunctional state of affairs. Their talk of 'transparency' is naught but an insult."
Bender continues, "If we are to enact real change in Solingen's council and town hall, the political will must remain absolute. Citizen participation and transparency must be prioritized, and not just tossed around as buzzwords. The administration should serve as a means of facilitating politics, rather than dictating its course."
On September 14, 2025, the Citizens' Community for Solingen e.V. (BfS) will compete in the local elections, determined to shake up the council and town hall and introduce genuine political change. Their platform revolves around resurrecting a politics that listens to the people, embraces openness, and values honesty and accountability above all. This is the dawn of a new era in Solingen, where the voice of the citizens will echo through the halls of power.
- The concern for transparency in Solingen's politics, as expressed by Josef Neumann, is a reaction to the allegedly secretive practices that seem to have roots in the Red-Green coalition's rule, where multiple committees and meetings were shrouded in secrecy.
- The Citizens' Community for Solingen e.V. (BfS), hoping to bring about real change in the local council and town hall, criticizes the Red-Green coalition's administration for prioritizing a power-hungry approach over transparency, alleging that the administration has neglected its responsibility to facilitate and support politics in a democratic manner.
