Bautzen District Council: Flag dispute, new train and market opening in sight!

Bautzen District Council: Flag dispute, new train and market opening in sight!

Things will get really exciting in the Bautzen district in the coming days. The next meeting of the district council is scheduled for June 23, 2025, where a hotly debated topic will dominate the agenda: the flags on district-owned buildings. Both the Bautzen district and the AfD have submitted applications for year-round flagging. While the district wants to fly the federal, state and Sorbian flags, the AfD only demands the federal flag. A new chapter in the political discussion is about to begin, as the cost of new masts and flags is estimated at around 80,000 euros.

The political landscape in the district council is colorful. A total of 92 members and five parliamentary groups are represented, including the AfD with 32 district councilors and the CDU with 25. Despite this multitude of opinions, the parliamentary group leaders of the CDU, SPD and BSW have not yet issued a statement on the flag proposals. The next meeting could lead to unexpected alliances, as previous debates have already shown.

Alstom's involvement in Bautzen

Another highlight from Bautzen is the new delivery from the Alstom factory: The first Coradia Stream regional train recently made its way to Romania, which not only means a forward-looking step for Alstom, but also the long-term securing of orders and investments in the location. The expansion of the plant by 12 million euros and the ramp-up of series production of additional trains for Romania and Bulgaria are on the agenda. These developments are of great importance because the employees at the plant also show that they are fighting for their concerns. Around 600 employees in Bautzen recently warned that they would not be satisfied with the pressure on employers.

IG Metall emphasizes a clear demand: wages and training allowances for the approximately 190,000 employees in the metal and electrical industry should increase by eight percent. The goal is clear: strengthen purchasing power and compensate for the rising costs of energy and food. An important point for many families in the region who feel exactly these burdens every day.

A new food market for Steinigtwolmsdorf

While Bautzen is dominated by political decisions and economic developments, there is also good news for the residents of Steinigtwolmsdorf: Edeka is planning a new food market. After the previous Nah & Gut market had to close two months ago, residents have had to move to neighboring towns. The local council has already approved the sale of a piece of land, which will make the project more concrete. After the closure of the last shopping opportunity, this is welcome news for the local families.

The municipal calendar is rounded off with the mayoral election in Demitz-Thumitz, which is taking place on Sunday. Two candidates are competing against each other: Stefan Bittner from DePoRo and the individual candidate Alexander Pötschke. The election is being followed closely, especially after the incumbent mayor resigned due to health reasons.

Sporting developments

Another positive aspect in the region is the development of football. SV Königsbrück/Laußnitz has set up its own girls' teams over the last four years and now has 50 girls and young women in its ranks. In collaboration with Thonberger SC and SV Bischheim-Häslich, they are currently forming gaming communities, which represents a significant step in promoting young talent.

The coming days promise an exciting mix of political and social developments in the Bautzen district. Viewers and participants can look forward to interesting discussions, both in the district council and in the local community.

You can find out more about these topics in the detailed reports from Sächsische.de, IG Metall and Weekly Courier.