The Greens’ preferred candidate, Walid Hafezi, is to become the new deputy for education, culture, youth and sport. Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) informed the parliamentary groups of this decision. The letter is available to the PNN.
The 52-year-old social scientist is currently a professor at the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences and spokesman for social policy in the city council group of the Greens in the Hessian state capital Wiesbaden.
One of the main reasons for the decision: The competitor, Caroline Rapp, “came to the decision to withdraw from the process due to the very narrow majority in her favor and the associated political uncertainties,” says Schubert. The challenges in Potsdam with the tasks in the youth and education sector would be too great to be able to start as a deputy with a narrow majority.
Schubert thanked her for presenting herself as a highly qualified specialist with extensive administrative experience in all application rounds. At the beginning of the appointment process, Schubert made it clear that he would actually prefer a woman for reasons of parity, so that the councilors in the town hall do not have an excess of men.
Schubert relies on the candidate who probably has the better chances in the city parliament
But nothing will come of it now. Above all, Rapp had the support of the SPD and the left. However, parts of the Rapp supporters had signaled to the head of the town hall that, if in doubt, they would also support Hafezi – who in turn had larger parts of the opposition in the town hall and the Greens on his side. These in turn had ruled out voting for Rapp.
An example: the alternative faction The Other. With its six city councilors and because of the narrow majorities, this was seen as tipping the scales. The statement from there in the direction of Schubert was according to PNN information on Tuesday evening: Both applicants, i.e. Rapp and Hafezi, could be chosen.
Schubert now explained: “Since a large number of city councilors had also spoken out in favor of the election of Professor Walid Hafezi as deputy and several factions have announced that they would also vote for him if I proposed him, I will vote for him on March 3rd. May 2023 to the city council for election.” With Hafezi, he is certain “that he will contribute his great professional knowledge with great commitment to our city”.
It is not possible without taking the employees with you.
Walid Hafezithe presumably future Head of Education
Hafezi himself had announced in the proceedings that he had “many years of professional experience in social administration and in leading positions in organizations in the social economy and in educational institutions” – about which there were doubts in the SPD parliamentary group, as reported. In a self-presentation by Hafezi, with which he introduced himself to the leaders of the parliamentary group last week, he explains his attitude to leadership issues: “It doesn’t work without taking the employees with you.” He wants to strengthen open youth work, promote mass sport – as well as the Continue to adequately promote the cultural sector, preserve diversity and strengthen the independent cultural scene. The issue of educational equity is also important to him.
The process was about to fail
The procedure for filling the important post was meanwhile on the verge of failure. In March, Schubert had only proposed Rapp and one other candidate. Because the names became public early, the competitor quickly threw in the towel and criticized the political culture in Potsdam. The Greens, on the other hand, were upset that their preferred candidate, Hafezi, had not initially been presented to the parliamentary groups. Then the city politicians had agreed on a renewed attempt with the four remaining best candidates, which soon turned into a duel.
It is unclear what effects the whole thing will have on the red-green-red town hall cooperation, in which the Greens were able to prevail against the SPD and the Left.
The procedure in the city council meeting on May 3 is as follows: In the first ballot, the candidate must have the majority of the 55 city council members behind them. If this does not succeed, according to the municipal constitution, further ballots are held in which a simple majority of yes or no votes is sufficient. The election takes place secretly – which in the past had already led to very close voting results. Schubert appealed: “I’m assuming that the moods mentioned from the factions will also endure in the election.”
Deputies are appointed for eight years. It is about the important department for education, youth, culture and sport. Former head of department Aubel gave up her post in February, in connection with criticism of Schubert’s management style and the prioritization in the town hall.
