SPD counters Merz and calls for a “cityscape” strategy

Numerous well-known SPD members of the Bundestag are countering Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s controversial statements with an eight-point plan for a “social, safe and solidarity-based cityscape” and are calling on the government coalition to agree on a common position by the end of the year – for example through a parliamentary resolution or a summit in the Chancellery.

“The recent debate about the ‘cityscape’ shows: Yes, there are challenges – but Friedrich Merz is naming the wrong problem,” says the letter, which was sent to the star is present. The supporters from various major cities in Germany represent the SPD regional associations from north to south and all three currents of the SPD parliamentary group: Adis Ahmetovic (Hannover), Isabel Cademartori (Mannheim), Sanae Abdi (Cologne), Annika Klose and Hakan Demir (both Berlin), Rasha Nasr (Dresden), Sebastian Roloff (Munich)Serdar Yüksel (Bochum), Armand Zorn (Frankfurt) and Aydan Özoğuz (Hamburg).

Difficulties in the cityscape have a variety of causes, according to the SPD MPs’ “debate contribution”. “Anyone who narrows the debate to asylum, flight and migration prevents solutions.”

In connection with migration policy, the Chancellor initially spoke vaguely about a still-existing “problem” in the “cityscape,” thereby triggering a heated debate. On Wednesday evening, Merz made his statement more specific. He emphasized that immigration will continue to be needed in the future, but said what bothers him about the public image of German cities: migrants without residence rights and work who do not adhere to the rules that apply in Germany.

The letter goes on to say that the debate initiated by the Chancellor triggered many reactions, some of which were understandable indignation. At the same time, “resentment was fueled by unclear wording.” “The debate about ‘city images’ needs precision in the analysis and clarity in the answers,” write SPD politicians and call on the government coalition to adopt a common position for a “future strategy for the inner city 2030+”.

Security must be thought about more broadly, says the eight-point plan. “We focus on prevention instead of exclusion: more outreach social work, stationary and mobile counseling and health services, anti-discrimination work and programs against racist violence,” it says.

Better lighting, emergency call systems and safe route concepts would also create trust. “A coordinated presence of federal and state police, municipal security services and – at central train stations – DB security forces, supported by street workers, improves the feeling of security.” Crime must be dealt with effectively and within the framework of the rule of law.

Affordable housing is also cited as a “key social issue in inner cities”. The aim is to bring life back into the centers, for example through co-working spaces, care and health centers as well as short distances between work, leisure and everyday life. “Homelessness is a visible expression of social distress – not individual guilt,” it says. The goal must be to overcome homelessness by 2030, for example through affordable emergency accommodation and preventative social work. “Nobody should have to live on the streets in this country.”

The “mix of uses” of living space, jobs and cultural offerings should also be promoted. “We want to create a legal and financial framework to enable diverse uses – instead of monotonous ‘consumption miles’.” Furthermore, the SPD MPs are committed to cultural and sports facilities as “central places of urban life” and mobility that takes everyone along. The financing of the municipalities must be secured and their “leeway for action” expanded.

“The government coalition made up of the CDU, CSU and SPD should agree on a common understanding of the “cityscape” by the end of the year,” demand the SPD members of the Bundestag regarding further action, “for example through a parliamentary resolution or a ‘City of the Future’ summit in the Chancellery.” Clarity is now needed in this debate.

“As social democrats, we are committed to Germany as a country of immigration. People do not recognize citizenship – those who live in our cities, get involved and get involved are part of our common cityscape,” it says.