Overview
- In February 2025, Dortmund’s council approved an SPD motion with backing from the Greens, the Left, and Die Partei to avoid decisions that would pass only with AfD votes, while AfD, CDU, and FDP/Bürgerliste voted against it.
- The Bezirksregierung ordered Mayor Thomas Westphal to revoke the measure, which he refused, describing it as a non-binding political self-commitment.
- After his refusal, the supervisory authority opened a disciplinary procedure against Westphal and required a renewed vote, which again endorsed the resolution.
- The authority grounds its intervention in §122 of North Rhine-Westphalia’s municipal code and points to a Düsseldorf administrative-court ruling that struck down a similar decision in Kaarst.
- Officials are now assessing the reconfirmed vote and are expected to annul the measure, a move that could lead Dortmund to challenge the decision in administrative court.