The Social Democrats have run Bremen, Germany’s smallest state, for 72 years. That may soon change
entrepreneur who joined the party only a year ago with no background in politics. His peppery business patter and limited command of policy detail mean he faces a tough battle against the able but uncharismaticmayor, Carsten Sieling . But the forces squeezing social democracy across Europe may prove too powerful for Mr Sieling to resist.
It is not hard to see why. Once rich and bustling, Bremen has long been a German problem child. The closure of docks and steel mills decades ago swelled the ranks of long-term unemployed and entrenched hardship: in Bremerhaven 40% of children live in households on long-term unemployment benefit. The bureaucracy has grown tired and inefficient. Schools are notable for crumbling buildings and appalling test scores.
Bremen has plenty of well-paying jobs in sectors like aerospace, but many workers live and pay taxes in surrounding Lower Saxony, commuting daily into the city. Mr Meyer-Heder says a priority will be to entice them back by redeveloping areas like Neustädter Hafen, a port with a lease that is up for renewal in 2027. Thousands more flats are needed, and a dozen new schools planned.
Mr Meyer-Heder’s likeliest partner in government are the Greens, with the liberal Free Democrats making up the numbers. For his part, Mr Sieling is pushing for a left-wing coalition with the Greens and far-left Die Linke. That is not the only national resonance. Losing Bremen after seven decades would be a “knife to the heart” of theleader, may struggle to keep her job, especially if the party suffers in the European elections too. Rarely can Bremen have roared so loudly."Fade to black"
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