The constellation is not trivial: a coalition of the Greens, SPD, FDP and Volt - and a Lord Mayor named Peter Feldmann (SPD). In the months of difficult coalition finding, there was much speculation about the role Feldmann could play in the new magistrate. Feldmann himself also took part: "Coalitions are being formed between parties," he told his colleagues in April. Not without shooting a tip in the direction of the parties that would actually like to keep him out: "I am chairman of the magistrate - and as the voice of the people at the table." knows the vote of his direct election.
The Lord Mayor - “the voice of the people” - is sitting at the table, as Feldmann affirmed at the presentation of the department cuts on Thursday, without saying it clearly.
The impression that is imposed, and which should also be imposed: This coalition has its blessings.
In terms of content, this is quite understandable, not only in questions of social cohesion, which he will represent in the future on the public parquet with the newly elected mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg (the Greens).
But also with tangible socio-political solutions, in which the new coalition is likely to be closer to him than the old one in many respects.
Into the picture with all his might
But the full-time city councilors will struggle to find a modus vivendi and to defend themselves against the mayor's attempts to hug - observers already sensed this on Wednesday and Thursday. Feldmann pushes himself into the picture with all his might, and that is not just meant literally.
During the election of the city councils, the head of the city council, Hilime Arslaner-Gölbasi, had every effort to keep the mayor from the camera-effective statement of congratulations to Eskandari-Grünberg - between whom and Feldmann, in the mayor's opinion, "no sheet of paper would fit" - even though she did so because of the coronavirus. Had not allowed conditions. But Feldmann wants to show himself. He wants to show that he can be expected despite the AWO affair. At the same time, he signals his party, the SPD, harmony and constructiveness. No cross-cuts - especially not a few days before the general election.