The state election campaign has been keeping Bavaria in suspense for weeks. But on election Sunday it’s not just about who can move into the Maximilianeum – it’s also about how the seven district councils in the Free State will be staffed in the future. The elections for the district assemblies are naturally overshadowed by the state elections. And yet the districts have an important meaning – especially for social tasks and culture.
District government, administrative district, district council president, district president – what is what and who is who? The seven districts should not be confused with the seven governments that exist in Lower Franconia, Upper Franconia, Middle Franconia, Swabia, Lower Bavaria, Upper Bavaria and Upper Palatinate. The government authorities are part of the state administration and therefore fulfill tasks that, for example, ministries assign to them.
The district governments, on the other hand, are the third municipal level alongside municipalities and cities as well as districts and independent cities. The district councils are elected parliaments, each of which elects a district council president. The district president, on the other hand, is appointed by the state government.
What tasks do the districts and their parliaments have? “The district assemblies are also called social parliaments,” says Franz Löffler, President of the Bavarian District Assembly. “They are primarily responsible for caring for people with disabilities, care needs and mental illnesses.” The districts also have tasks in the areas of cultural and local heritage, education and the environment. For example, districts have district clinics with a focus on psychiatric and neurological treatment. They are also involved in the areas of fishing and agriculture and maintain educational institutions for training and further education in this area.
How are the elections going? The election takes place at the same time as the state elections. The principle is similar – there is one vote for a direct candidate and a second vote for the list. However, in contrast to state elections, there is no five percent hurdle, meaning that even parties with a lower share of the vote can enter the district assembly. In 2018, the CSU was able to win a majority in all seven district parliaments.
Candidates for district elections are often people who are already active at other local levels – for example as mayor, district administrator or city council. District councils work on a voluntary basis, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
Districts are also struggling with rising costs
What are the district finances like? According to the district council, the budget volume of all seven districts in 2021 was 6.3 billion euros. Of this, 5.7 billion euros were spent on social benefits, or around 91 percent. The money for the districts comes from levies paid by the districts and independent cities and from the Free State as part of the municipal financial equalization.
At the moment he would describe the financial resources of the districts as “solid,” says President Löffler. “However, we have been struggling with significant cost increases for years. The effects of the war in Ukraine have unfortunately increased this effect even further.” There are fears of financing gaps in social spending in the coming years if costs continue to rise and municipal budget income stagnates or even declines.
What challenges do the seven districts see in addition to financing? District council president Löffler, who is also the district council president of the Upper Palatinate, mentions the demographic change and the shortage of skilled workers: “The demand that has been increasing for years in our clinics as well as in the disabled and care facilities has to be managed with fewer and fewer staff.” This couldn’t work out well in the long run. “So we have to find ways to ensure care for people who need support and help. This will keep us busy in the coming years.”