Andreas Hupke leaves the Greens-new electoral alliance for Cologne-Innerstadt!

Andreas Hupke leaves the Greens-new electoral alliance for Cologne-Innerstadt!

Deutz, Deutschland - The Cologne district mayor Andreas Hupke finally pulled the ripcord and announced his exit from the Greens. At the age of 75, Hupke looks back on a decades of membership in the party and at the same time announces the start of his own electoral alliance, which will bear the name "Downtown/Deutz" or "Team Hupke". On September 14th, he wants to run as a candidate for local elections. This reports T-Online .

The break between Hupke and the Greens became visible in spring when the party did not offer him another candidacy. According to the Hupke, they want to sort it out because of their age. This ensured not only with him, but also with many supporters.

a fresh start and clear announcements

his decision to let membership rest with the Greens came with immediate effect. As a single candidate, Hupke wants to act in the future and use the experience from his long -term political career. This balance sheet is impressive: In the last election in 2020, the Greens reached a proud 45 percent of the vote under Hupke's leadership in the city center. "I have always argued for the matter," explains Hupke, who emphasizes that he does not want to enter into alliances in the district council and to address challenges such as climate change and homelessness.

But the new course is not without challenges. Hupke is in the sharp contradiction to the current mayor Henriette Reker, who recently came up with Madrid as a negative example of the condition of the city center. Hupke criticizes this statement and expresses his frustration about "power tribs" within the green. "There were subtle hints about my age, about the so -called old white men," he says. This prompted him to make a clear cut, although he also realizes that despite all the differences, he always fought for the matter.

his election alliance was officially approved by the Cologne election committee for the local elections - an important step for Hupke and his team. Nevertheless, the review does not remain uncommented. The co-chairman of the Greens, Kirsten Jahn and Cyrill Ibn Salem, are disappointed with Hupkes and emphasize that they have made discussion offers, but they have not been accepted by him. The Greens regret his decision and reject the allegation of age discrimination, as the Cologne Stadt-Anzeiger reports .