Fuss about Görlitz: Dispute over military advertising and district council decisions!

Fuss about Görlitz: Dispute over military advertising and district council decisions!

Things get down to business in Görlitz – and not just in terms of urban development. On October 1st, the district council passed a controversial resolution that rejected advertising for military service and defense products in public institutions. A real thrill! With 30 votes in favor, 26 against and 3 abstentions, the resolution was passed by an unusual majority from the AfD, Free Saxony/Alliance of Upper Lusatia and BSW-Free Voters Zittau (FWZ) as well as the Free Saxons, who thus appeared as majority procurers for the first time. Alles Lausitz reports that District Administrator Dr. Stephan Meyer is now resisting this decision and calling a special meeting for October 29th. He sees the decision as illegal and emphasizes that responsibility for military advertising lies with the federal government.

But what is really behind this heated debate? The effects are becoming noticeable: the Bundeswehr logo could soon disappear at events organized by the district administration or district-owned companies. The BSW faction, led by Jens Hentschel-Thöricht, is calling for an advertising ban for the Bundeswehr and they are also critical of presentations such as the NH90 helicopter, which was recently on display at the popular airfield festival in Görlitz. Sächsische reports that these events, according to Hentschel-Thöricht, who are responsible for false advertising, could soon be a thing of the past.

Armaments debate and its consequences

Behind the debate about war and peace lies a complex web of political beliefs and economic interests. National defense costs and the role of the Bundeswehr in society are hotly debated topics - and Görlitz is no exception. The planned ban may also have an impact on large events that have already attracted thousands of visitors. This includes, among other things, the airfield festival, where the NH90 is also used as a firefighting aircraft for forest fires.

The discussion about the decision and the associated consequences is explosive for the local population. Critics such as District Councilor Göttsberger complain that Meyer only deals with the ban on advertising for military service, while other decisions that are considered inadmissible remain unheeded.

A photo that makes waves

Another exciting point is the current interest in Görlitz, which extends as far as New York. A photo by Matthias Wehnert was published in the New York Times and discusses the weapons production in Görlitz by KNDS. Alles Lausitz reports that this picture is causing a stir not only in the city, but also internationally. In addition, a misleading direct mail that used the name KNDS led to the Görlitz police now investigating its authorship.

It remains to be seen how the political currents will develop in the coming weeks. Will the district council come to an agreement at the special meeting on October 29th that brings together the opposing viewpoints, or will the situation continue to get worse? One thing is certain: the population in Görlitz is following developments with excitement and is directly affected by the decisions of their elected representatives.