Finance Councillor Bonew on the streets: “We can’t carry on like this!”

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It is certainly not every day that Leipzig’s Finance Councillor, Torsten Bonew (CDU), takes to the streets in protest. Yet, for today’s nationwide day of action by local authorities, he too had come to the market square carrying a protest banner. It’s all about money – or rather, the lack of it. “Leipzig is right up to the limit,” said the 54-year-old, referring to the spiralling costs that federal and state legislation is imposing on local authorities. The LZ was on the scene at the protest and spoke to the mayor on the microphone.

Mr Bonew, why is this protest taking place today?

Local authorities across Germany want to highlight just how close we are to the limit. We want to organise a kind of demonstration – which I very much regret, because I believe that local authorities, as part of this wonderful democracy, should work together differently with the state and federal levels of government. But for years, our plight has gone unheard. For years, they have ignored the fact that laws are being passed at federal and state level which, in the end, are not adequately funded, leaving the financial burden to be borne by the local authorities. Things cannot go on like this! We, too, as the City of Leipzig, are right at our limit and unfortunately have to resort to this drastic measure. I would have preferred to do something other than put up posters.

What are Leipzig’s greatest current challenges in this regard?

There are far too many pieces of legislation, particularly in the social sector, which were initiated by the federal and state governments and promised improvements to the public, but which were then not properly funded or fully financed. Take care support, for example – an important issue: someone moves into a care home but cannot afford the care home place from their pension – particularly here in the east. Who ends up paying for this? The local authority! For the city of Leipzig alone, this now amounts to 23 million euros a year – money we are happy to pay out to residents, but which we receive no reimbursement for from anywhere. And those who draw up these care laws – that is, who set the care home standards and determine how much the care insurance scheme pays – then wash their hands of the funding when it ultimately falls short. We have no influence over any of these standards, yet we are left to foot the bill.

Torsten Bonew (CDU), Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Finance. Local authorities at their limit – Leipzig is taking part in the nationwide campaign by towns and municipalities, 22 June 2026. Photo: Jan Kaefer

In what ways will the public feel the effects of these financial difficulties?

I believe the public is already noticing it when you look at the waiting times at our citizens’ advice bureaux and our vehicle registration offices. People notice it when they drive along the roads, which are in urgent need of repair. People notice it in many, many schools. Even though we have built an incredible number of new schools over the last 15 years, there are many that are in need of renovation. People notice it in sports halls. People can see it in local services, such as library opening hours, and so on and so forth. However, we must now work together to strike a balance: we must not divide society any further, but instead present our demands unitedly in Berlin and Dresden and then arrive at a solution together. Because everything we do here also undermines our wonderful democracy – and I don’t think that’s a good thing.

What specific measures are you calling for from the federal and state governments?

First and foremost, I am calling for a review of all legislation passed over the last 15 years. If there are funding gaps for local authorities, whoever passed the law – be it the Bundestag or the Landtag – must either provide the funding or repeal the law. Whoever commissions the service must pay for it – and if they do not want to pay for it, they must cancel it.

If, as the Federal Government, I realise that I have passed social legislation that this country cannot afford, then I must finally find the majority and the resolve – even in a CDU–SPD coalition government – to repeal these laws. After all, one cannot exactly say that this country’s social legislation over the last ten years has made society any better. Therefore: whoever commissions a service must pay for it, or if they realise they cannot afford it, they must cancel it. It’s just like running a household: I can’t run a deficit for a whole year, realise in November that I’ve overdrawn my account, and then go on holiday with the family in December. Yet that is exactly what this country is doing at the moment.

Local authorities at breaking point – Leipzig joins the nationwide campaign by towns and municipalities, 22 June 2026. Photo: Jan Kaefer

What message can today’s day of action send out?

I think that if all of Germany’s local authorities show today that things cannot go on like this, it will, for a start, serve as a warning to all those who pass laws at federal and state level. But it also highlights just how dire the situation in our country is. I would have hoped that local authorities, as a level of government alongside the federal and state levels, would find other ways to re-establish a fair partnership with legislators regarding the full funding of services, but that hope has simply vanished. Either people don’t understand it, or they don’t want to understand it, or they don’t want to hear it, or they hear it but lack the strength to change it. All of this is terrible because it undermines our wonderful democracy, and this country does not deserve that.

What will happen if your call goes unheeded today?

We’ll see. (Pause) We must carry on; we must do our job; we must draw up the budget. We will show how many services we will, unfortunately, no longer be able to provide as a result, and what will be cut back. Even if you implement a round of cuts these days, it amounts to tough consolidation. And then I hope that our voices will be heard in Berlin and Dresden, and that we’ll finally see benefit legislation that promises benefits which are actually affordable.

Local authorities at their limit – Leipzig joins the nationwide campaign by towns and municipalities, 22 June 2026. Photo: Jan Kaefer