Citizens' decision in Baden-Baden: Central Clinic on the Münchfeldsee?

Citizens' decision in Baden-Baden: Central Clinic on the Münchfeldsee?

Baden-Baden, Deutschland - in Baden-Baden has been discussing the new location of a central clinic for many months. For many citizens, there is a significant decision on Sunday, June 29: In the event of a citizens' decision, the citizens may vote whether they support or not support the planned establishment of the clinic on the Münchfeldsee, which is located on Rastatt district. Those responsible in the Rastatt district council and a majority of the Baden-Baden municipal council are for this location and see the best prerequisites for future-proof medical care for the population.

The initiative "Yes! To the Baden-Baden clinic location" has created a citizens' request to protest against the selected location and instead demands that the central clinic be built directly in Baden-Baden. In order to implement this project, the initiative to collect the necessary signatures, but as the city administration announced on December 5, 2024, the citizens' request was not permitted. One crucial point in this: the desire was submitted after the municipal council decision already made on November 25, 2024 and therefore not in accordance with the legal requirements.

Citizen participation in practice

Citizens 'request and citizens' decisions are central elements of direct democracy at the local level. They enable citizens to actively participate in political decisions. In Baden-Württemberg, the introduction of these instruments is a significant step towards promoting citizen participation. According to the Federal Center for Political Education, the municipal phase of democracy in which citizens' petitions are realized is a "school of democracy" and encourages the population to deal with local issues.

However, the regulation for submitting citizen request is precisely determined: you must be in writing and a reason and the required cost recovery proposal. This is a point that the initiative "Yes! To the Baden-Baden clinic location" obviously did not consider why the citizens' request was classified as inadmissible. Theoretically, a new, casserative citizens' request could be submitted within three months of the announcement of a municipal council decision. However, the challenge of organizing the necessary agreements and signatures in good time should not be underestimated.

An important weekend for Baden-Baden

On Sunday, the citizens of Baden-Baden are asked: "Are you for the fact that the resolutions 1, 3 and 9 on November 25, 2024 are canceled under agenda item 7 and the city of Baden-Baden only agrees to the construction of a new central clinic that Baden-Baden is its location?" The decision is expected by many, and a live ticker will report on the course of the citizens' decision on Sunday from 5 p.m.

Whether trust in direct democracy and the participation of the citizens can be strengthened will be shown in the coming days. The upcoming vote could be a crucial step for future health care in Baden-Baden and shows how important the voices of citizens are on municipal questions.

For further information on the background and details of the coordination, interested citizens can do the articles on as well as the Bundeszentrale for political education