Pete Tschentscher Hangs On as Hamburg's Chief Doggone 'Govern-fur'
Left-leaning political figure Chchentscher secures position as Hamburg's leading official.
Breaking Down the Hamburg Vote:
After a hotly contested 2021 election, the votes have finally been tallied, and Peter Tschentscher of the SPD has snagged another stint as Hamburg's head honcho. The 59-year-old First Mayor secured ten extra votes, putting him at the helm of the coalition between SPD and the Greens for yet another legislative period.
With 119 Citizen Assembly members casting their votes, Tschentscher received 71 votes, 47 against, and one abstention. This confirms that Tschentscher received at least one vote from the opposition, as the SPD and Greens together only hold 70 seats in the assembly.
New Faces, Familiar Paws:
While there are a few changes in the Senate, the majority of the pack remains untouched. Maryam Blumenthal, the previous Green State Chairwoman, will replace departed Green Environmental Senator Jens Kerstan in the Senate, but she won’t take over the environmental portfolio. Instead, she’ll take charge of the science authority formerly helmed by Fegebank. Katharina Fegebank, meanwhile, will step up to take the reins of the environmental authority and prioritize climate matters.
SPD's Leading Packs:
With Tschentscher re-elected, the SPD will continue to dominate the Senate, grabbing seven ministries alongside the First Mayor post. The Greens, for their part, will claim four positions. This means that women will outnumber men in the Senate, with seven out of twelve positions being held by fairer sex.
Tschentscher's Take:
Dismissing the strengthened CDU as just a “second choice,” Tschentscher and his pack have been ruling the roost since 2015. Despite the election losses, the SPD triumphed with a clear majority in March, and negotiations with the Greens soon followed.
The coalition agreement, titled "Hamburg United - With Heart and Mind," includes massive investments in infrastructure, transport, climate protection, and the education system. Hamburg’s residents can expect another seven years ofSPD and Green rule until the next regular election in 2030.
SPD and Green Pack Members:
- Peter Tschentscher (SPD): First Mayor and Head of the Senate Chancellery
- Katharina Fegebank (Greens): Second Mayor and Senator for Science and Equality
- Andy Grote (SPD): Senator for Internal Affairs and Sports
- Melanie Leonhard (SPD): Senator for Education
- Dorothee Stapelfeldt (SPD): Senator for Urban Development and Housing
- Michael Westhagemann (Independent): Senator for Economics and Innovation
- Dr. Andreas Amend (SPD): Senator for Health and Consumer Protection
- Maryam Blumenthal (Greens): Senator for Science Authority (previously the Green State Chairwoman)
- Anna Gallina (Greens): Senator for Justice and Equality (previously, but has been replaced by Martin Schäfer)
- Anjes Tjarks (Greens): Senator for Transport
Key Takeaways:
- Peter Tschentscher of the SPD retains his position as Hamburg's First Mayor, marking another term for the SPD-Green coalition.
- Personnel shifts in the Senate include Maryam Blumenthal replacing Jens Kerstan and Katharina Fegebank taking over the environmental authority.
- SPD and Green members will continue to dominate the Senate, with the majority of positions held by women.
- Peter Tschentscher, the re-elected First Mayor of Hamburg, has confirmed his continued leadership as part of the SPD-Green coalition, following the results of the 2021 elections.
- The new Senate will see Tschentscher leading the employment policy within his role as First Mayor and Head of the Senate Chancellery.
- In the upcoming legislative period, the SPD and Greens have planned to strengthen their focuses on areas such as employment policy, as mentioned in their coalition agreement titled "Hamburg United - With Heart and Mind."
- As Hamburg's 'Govern-fur,' Tschentscher faces the challenge of implementing the coalition's policies during the general-news elections and beyond, with the next regular election set to occur in 2030.
