Mayor Barbara Ludwig on the announced accommodation of refugees in a former DIY store by the Free State of Bavaria
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "Just a week ago, the state government published the concept for the initial reception facilities in Saxony for which it is responsible and which it will organise. At last. However, the federal states are aware that the number of refugees to be accommodated in Saxony could double, and not just because of the BAMF's new asylum seeker forecast.
The truth is: Saxony has no plan to deal with this. The concept will not take effect until 2017 at the earliest, and currently every building that has a roof and is offered by private owners is being rented. Why doesn't the Free State use its own properties and buildings instead of DIY stores to organise decent accommodation?
Over 80 per cent of all refugees to be accommodated in the initial reception centre in Saxony are in emergency accommodation. Of the almost 7,000 people now in the initial reception centre in Saxony, over 2,500 are housed in around ten locations in Chemnitz. In addition, there are a number of often equally provisional and overcrowded accommodation centres at various locations in Saxony. These include a DIY store in Heidenau. The state government is now planning to utilise a second DIY store in Chemnitz. This is precisely where the city wants to accommodate some of the refugees assigned to it as a local authority in shared accommodation in the immediate vicinity.
With one difference, which is important to us as a local authority: we work according to an accommodation and care concept. We house two thirds of the refugees in flats. Our shared accommodation should deliberately have no more than 150 places. All locations are carefully selected, information is provided in advance and residents' meetings are planned. Many residents get involved on a voluntary basis.
What is the point of this endeavour if the Free State of Bavaria is accommodating around 600 refugees in sub-standard conditions in a DIY store in this very area and may have already signed a rental agreement for up to five years? What is the value of the cabinet decision and thus the statements of the state government, which are barely a week old? All credibility is lost here. This also applies to us as local politicians, who campaign directly on the ground for acceptance of integration. We do this out of the deepest conviction and with great commitment, but our credibility is our greatest asset, especially when it comes to this issue.
It would be honest to say that we have to mobilise all our forces to master the task and get through the winter well. But we can and will manage it. Because we can. The entire state government, headed by the Prime Minister, has a duty, just like the federal government and all state governments. As the mayor of the city in Saxony that has housed the most refugees for many years and who personally campaigns to its citizens for tolerance, solidarity and acceptance towards refugees, I say: I would never have thought that our state of Saxony would act in such a driven, haphazard and negligent manner. This is irresponsible towards the refugees and irresponsible towards the citizens. I don't want the applause of the wrong people, who are playing into the hands of this lack of planning.
I have immense respect for the work of the many volunteers who have been doing outstanding work for months now, for those who are privately committed to helping us, and I say: thank you for that."