The plans to overthrow the Bremen Parliament have failed.
The CDU wanted to vote no confidence in Education Senator Sascha Karolin Aulepp (53, SPD) from office. On Monday morning, the citizens’ assembly met for a special session in the town hall – but the majority of SPD, Greens and Left Party withstood the test.
CDU parliamentary group leader Frank Imhoff (55) listed the main problems of Bremen’s education system: poor performance of the smallest federal state in educational studies, poor German language skills among many students, lack of skilled workers in daycare centers and schools, high rates of school dropouts.
The Education Senator bears responsibility for this, said Imhoff. “We no longer believe in a turnaround in the education department, at least not with your leadership.”
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Most recently, Aulepp imposed a budget freeze in her department – five weeks after the budget was passed. Imhoff: “There is chaos, particularly in the budget issue and in the financial area.” The annual budget for energy costs had already been used up after just six months.
Bremen’s mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (59, SPD) criticized the vote of no confidence as “unfounded in every respect.” The budget freeze in particular is a sign of responsible action. “Of course, no schoolchild has to stay at home because of this, and not a single daycare place will be canceled or not created because of this. Not a single teacher will be hired less,” emphasized Bovenschulte.
The Bremen Parliament voted on Monday against the expulsion of Education Senator Sascha Aulepp (SPD)
Photo: Lars Penning/dpa
The education senator has a “Herculean task” to accomplish, said the mayor. There are 6,000 more children living in Bremen than just a few years ago, and daycare and school care must be massively expanded. “Under these extremely difficult conditions, education senator Sascha Aulepp is extremely committed to the interests of our children,” said Bovenschulte.
In the end, the motion was rejected by 46 out of 85 votes. 36 MPs voted for Aulepp’s departure, three abstained. FDP and Alliance Germany supported the CDU’s motion of no confidence. However, together they do not have a majority.
