Scandal in Wadgassen: Mayor Greiber under fire!

Scandal in Wadgassen: Mayor Greiber under fire!

The political situation in Wadgassen escalates increasingly. The dispute between the local CDU and the SPD mayor Sebastian Greiber has been running for several months and now reaches a critical point. The CDU publicly demands the resignation of Greiber, while a criminal complaint against him was submitted in parallel. This comes from the former mayor Harald Braun (SPD) and accuses Greiber infidelity and fraud. At the center of the allegations is the controversial purchase of real estate by Immobilien Wadgassen GmbH Co. KG, which should have taken place without the necessary decisions of the municipal council and without a budgetary title, as the Saarbrücker Zeitung

Greiber rejected the allegations, but realizes that the transactions had "formal errors". In the situation, the CDU sees a "first -class local political scandal" and criticizes not only the incidents related to real estate transactions, but also Greiber's general administrative style. According to the violent clashes, Greiber resigned from his functions as managing director of several municipal GmbHs, which further illustrates the tensions on the Supervisory Board.

allegations and resignation

The allegations include that housing is handled by an insolvent GmbH. It is also about acquiring a property by the family of a former SPD member for 355,000 euros. This transaction took place shortly after the ex-deputy from the Supervisory Board of Immobilien GmbH. According to SR , two million euros were interconnected from the municipal treasury in 2023 without obtaining the consent of the municipal council. Greiber argues that the purchase for village development was necessary and refers to two reports obtained, while he is responsible for the lack of coordination of the local council.

In addition to the criminal complaint, Greiber is now also a service complaint. The public prosecutor's office and local authority examine the processes in Wadgassen for possible household incideration. The current debt level of the GmbH is 1.59 million euros. Greiber vehemently rejected rumors about luxurious expenses and company car purchases by pointing out that he never stayed in the Adlon and obtained properly report for company car purchases.

look at local politics

The situation in Wadgassen reflects a bigger problem in local politics. Nationwide, growing dissatisfaction among mayors and municipal councils can be found. Among other things, the reasons include overwhelming government requirements, unfinanced tasks and increasing bureaucracy. This is also evident in other municipalities, where Mayor, such as Jochen Fetzer from Bingen and Michael Stolze from Markt Schwaben, have announced their resignation, partly due to personal pressure and unresolved financial questions. The Kommunal reports of a continuing tendency that no new mayor candidates can be found in over 450 Rhineland-Palatinate municipalities.

In order to counteract this development, various measures are proposed, including new financial relationships between municipalities and the federal states, strengthening the volunteer as well as a consistent approach to hatred and agitation. The Rems-Murr district in Baden-Württemberg has already shown positive ways by offering affected local politicians. In Wadgassen it remains to be seen whether and how the political landscape will change as a result of the allegations against Mayor Greiber.