Council meeting on June 25th: A new beginning for the Greens in Leipzig

Council meeting on June 25th: A new beginning for the Greens in Leipzig

Today the political stage in Cologne has seen further developments. A council meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2025, which will bring with it a change of mandate at Alliance 90/The Greens. Dr. Paula Piechotta will resign from her position, followed by her successor Anna-Lisa Möbius. Piechotta's withdrawal is not without reason: the close election results in 2024 and 2025 prompted her to take a step aside. She emphasizes the political responsibility she bears and the need not to jeopardize finding a majority. Kristina Weyh, the parliamentary group leader, supports this decision and welcomes her new colleague Möbius.

Anna-Lisa Möbius brings a breath of fresh air because she is not only a teacher, but also active on the board of the district association of the Greens. She has decided to be particularly committed to schools, education and the interests of young people. This means that it is likely to play an important role in the city.

Open day in the district house

On June 24, 2025, the district house on Ihmelsstrasse will open for an open afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The aim of the event is to inform citizens about the offers and projects in the district and to encourage them to actively participate. Here, Cologne residents can hope for exciting information and opportunities to help shape their own neighborhood.

Unfortunately, Deutsche Bahn also has news to announce. From June 26th to July 12th there will be restrictions on the route between Erfurt and Halle/Leipzig. Due to necessary bridge work, maintenance costs will be reduced and train travel times between Leipzig and Munich will also be extended. There will even be test drives with Siemens Mobility during the lockdown.

Disinformation as a constant companion

Another current point is the increasing concern about disinformation campaigns. An election report on the 2024 and 2025 elections has identified such campaigns in Leipzig, especially before the 2025 federal election. Videos were distributed with false information about postal voting documents that were specifically intended to disadvantage the AfD. The city of Leipzig has informed the state security agency in this context. A Russian group known as Storm 1516 was identified as the instigator of these campaigns.

In order to meet the challenges posed by misinformation, the Greens in Germany emphasize the importance of actively combating disinformation. Emily Büning reminds us that all Democrats have a shared responsibility to counteract this. This comes in the context of a study showing that 84 percent of Germans consider intentionally spread misinformation to be a serious problem. As many as 86 percent of respondents believe such information could influence election outcomes, reinforcing the need to raise public awareness and protect them.

The current discussion about disinformation is particularly explosive. It is not only a slap in the face to democracy, but also contributes to division in society. As relevant stakeholders noted, the connection between disinformation and issues such as immigration, health, war and the climate crisis is very strong. In this sense, it is essential to advance the healing process in society with transparency and community engagement.

Overall, this day in Cologne shows that a lot is in flux on political and social levels. From changes in the council to the challenges at Deutsche Bahn to the ongoing problems caused by disinformation – the city is facing big and important tasks.