Pete Tschentscher Remains as Hamburg's Top Dog, Reinforcing SPD-Green Coalition
Socialist Party leader Chchentscher wins seat as Hamburg's Premier Minister.
Hamburg's Rock-Solid Partnership Continues
After a bloomin' nail-biting confirmation vote, Peter Tschentscher from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) keeps his spot as Hamburg's big kahuna. The 59-year-old mayor secured more than enough votes to continue leading the coalition of SPD and the Greens for another legislative period. Ta-da!
The parliament, boasting 121 members, saw 119 of 'em casting their votes. Out of 'em, 71 gave a thumbs-up to Tschentscher, while a mere 47 cast a dissenting vote. One abstention was recorded. With SPD and Greens owning 70 seats in the Hamburg parliament, Tschentscher managed to secure at least one vote from the opposition to continue his reign.
Kicking Off the New Senate
Following Tschentscher's official election and swearing-in, the parliament will confirm the senators and appoint Katharina Fegebank, a Green politician, as the second mayor.
In the new senate, the SPD bagged seven posts (including the first mayor's position), while the Greens secured four seats. A clear majority of women will be ruling the roost: seven out of the twelve posts will be held by the fairer sex.
New Faces and Familiar Lands
With the departure of Green environment senator Jens Kerstan, Maryam Blumenthal, the former Green state chairwoman, jumps into the senate. She'll be taking the reins of the science authority formerly steered by Fegebank, who's moving over to the environment authority as Kerstan's successor and making climate policy her top priority.
The majority of the incumbent senators will continue to stand their ground in their respective roles: Melanie Leonhard, chairwoman of SPD, as economics senator, and her merry crew of Karen Pein, Melanie Schlotzhauer, Ksenija Bekeris, Andreas Dressel, Andy Grote, and Carsten Brosda holding down urban development, social affairs, schools, finance, interior, and culture.
Apart from Fegebank and Blumenthal, the Green justice senator Anna Gallina and transport senator Anjes Tjarks hold their positions at the senate table.
A Successful Coalition Spanning Seven Years
The electric dance between SPD and Greens in the Hanseatic city has been going strong since 2015, with Tschentscher reigning as first mayor and head honcho since 2018. In the 2020 election, the SPD triumphed with a landslide victory, paving the way for another coalition with the Greens.
Approximately two weeks ago, both parties revealed their grand coalition agreement under the title "Hamburg United - With Heart and Mind." The icing on the cake? Multi-billion-dollar investments in infrastructure, transport, climate protection, and education. Mark your calendars for the next regular election in Hamburg, set for 2030.
Source: ntv.de, mpa/dpa/AFP
- Hamburg
- SPD-Green Coalition
- Peter Tschentscher
- Re-election
- Elections
- Peter Tschentscher, the SPD leader, was re-elected as Hamburg's mayor, strengthening the SPD-Green coalition for another legislative period.
- Despite a close vote, Tschentscher secured more than enough votes to remain Hamburg's top dog, with 71 votes in his favor and 47 against.
- The elections held in the Hamburg parliament showed the SPD and Greens' strong presence, with 70 seats in total between them.
- The agreed coalition policy between SPD and Greens, titled "Hamburg United - With Heart and Mind," includes significant investments in infrastructure, transport, climate protection, and education.
