Neubrandenburg's new mayor Klose: An inauguration with conflicts!

Neubrandenburg's new mayor Klose: An inauguration with conflicts!

An important date is coming up in Neubrandenburg today: Nico Klose, the designated mayor, will be sworn in after a turbulent year. His predecessor, Silvio Witt, resigned early after a violent conflict over the raising of the rainbow flag caused a stir. Klose won the runoff election in May with an impressive 64.95% of the vote. He ran against Frank Benischke from the CDU, who was left behind with 35.05%. Klose received support from the SPD, the Greens and even from Witt, whose resignation in October 2024 surprised many as he previously stood up for diversity and tolerance as patron of the Christopher Street Day events.

How Witt's resignation came about is closely linked to the city council's decision to ban the hoisting of the rainbow flag at the local train station. The motion for this was submitted by Councilor Tim Großmüller, a non-party representative of the “Stable Citizens for Neubrandenburg”, and passed with 15 votes in favor, 11 against and 8 abstentions. In the past there have been several swaps in which the rainbow flag was replaced with a swastika flag. Critics of the decision came primarily from the ranks of the Greens, who strongly condemned the AfD's participation in the vote. Jutta Wegner from the Greens and Katrin Göring-Eckardt expressed clear criticism of the council's approach.

The pressure on Witt's decision

The pressure on Silvio Witt and those around him grew steadily, with personal experiences and public attacks ultimately leading to his resignation. He had held the office since 2015 and was re-elected in 2022. It seems to me that after almost a decade in office, Witt simply could no longer deal with the increasing tensions and challenges in local politics.

At the same time, the discussion about rainbow symbols and their visibility remains highly topical. The discussion about the installation of rainbow flags was also recently reignited in the Bundestag. The Bundestag administration has asked several MPs to remove these symbols from their offices, which has met with widespread criticism. The rule against violating the neutrality of the House was introduced in 2018, and since then MPs who have been flying flags in support of the queer community have faced such reactions.

A colorful sign of solidarity

In Germany, the rainbow flag is considered a strong symbol of tolerance and solidarity with queer people. It stands for diversity and peaceful exchange among the different facets of society. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner has announced that in future the rainbow flag will only be hoisted on the International Day Against Homophobia, May 17th, which many target groups see as a restriction of visibility. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on the other hand, spoke out in favor of a safe life for queer people and rejected accusations of queer hostility.

Witt's resignation and the ongoing debate about rainbow symbols show how important it is to stand up for diversity and tolerance. In Neubrandenburg, the new mayor Klose will face the challenge of seeking dialogue with all citizens and creating an atmosphere in which everyone respects their opinions and can live their identity.