After the SPD and parts of the CDU rejected an initial proposal for administrative reform, associations and civil society are increasing the pressure on the coalition. In an “urgent appeal”, a broad alliance from the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists (VBKI) to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) called on Friday for the reform of the Berlin administration to be implemented quickly and decisively.
“The alliance is calling on the governing parties to do everything they can to continue the project without delay and to pass the reform as planned in this legislative period,” says the statement signed by eleven associations.
Christophe Knoch, board member of the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin, explained: “The administrative reform represents a historic opportunity for the cityWe expect that all parties represented in the Berlin House of Representatives and in particular the governing coalition are aware of their responsibility towards the city and its residents. Let us use the window of opportunity! Our city needs modernization – and it needs it now.”
The administrative reform represents a historic opportunity for the city.
Christophe KnochBoard member of the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin
In agreement with Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), the initiators made it clear that the reform should include a constitutional amendment. In contrast, the two SPD chairmen Nicola Böcker-Giannini and Martin Hikel recently stated: “It would make sense to concentrate on the state organization law as a first step in order to achieve results quickly.”
Observers suspect that the demand is intended to take the opposition out of the game. Their votes are needed to achieve the required two-thirds majority in parliament.
A draft reform announced for next Tuesday by Martina Klement, State Secretary for Administrative Modernization (CSU), is eagerly awaited. In order to keep to the tight schedule, a Senate resolution on the reform is necessary this year.
