After-work party in Lübeck: celebration despite the financial crisis causes trouble!

After-work party in Lübeck: celebration despite the financial crisis causes trouble!

The mayor of Lübeck, Jan Lindenau (SPD), recently announced plans for an after-work party for the city administration, which will take place at the beginning of September. This event is being organized despite the difficult financial situation and negative budget forecasts. The exact location and times remain undisclosed for security reasons. This decision is causing discussions within the political landscape, especially with the FDP, which already made an inquiry about the financial conditions of the celebration in June. LN online reports that the cost of the event will be in line with previous years, with last year's after-work party costing 42,887 euros (approx. 28 euros per person) and being attended by 1,515 employees.

The announcement of the party comes in the context of high deficits recorded in Lübeck's budget. In 2024, the budget closed with a deficit of almost 95 million euros. Lindenau also issued a budget freeze on July 15, 2024. FDP parliamentary group leader Thorsten Fürter expressed concerns to the citizens and asked whether there were contractual provisions for a possible cancellation of the event in the event of a budget freeze. Canceling the party last year would have resulted in a five-figure penalty, which put the organization under pressure.

Political reactions

Reactions to the upcoming event are mixed. While the SPD parliamentary group cannot understand the FDP's criticisms, it sees the after-work party as an important measure to appreciate and motivate employees. Frank Zahn, a member of the SPD parliamentary group, criticizes the attacks by the CDU, FDP and the Greens on the city administration and emphasizes that team-building measures to retain and motivate employees are essential in times of a shortage of skilled workers. He also argues that employee recruitment campaigns are exempt from a budget freeze and that the after-work party should be considered appropriate HL live.

The SPD also sees the FDP's request as an expression of mistrust towards the city administration's employees. This distrust could create additional pressure at a time of existing administrative challenges, such as a shortage of skilled workers. Zahn is calling for an end to the propaganda against the administration, which could not only demotivate employees but also impair cooperation within the authority.

In summary, it can be said that the planned after-work party in Lübeck is not only a social event, but also sends a political signal that is attracting a lot of attention in the current financial situation. Nevertheless, many city administration employees have already welcomed the event as an opportunity for appreciation and exchange.