Overview

• Mayor Eva Jähnigen shut off Dresden's fountains, citing a €400,000 budget shortfall, sparking criticism from opposition factions.
• Team Zastrow and Die Linken have filed urgent motions to overturn the shutdown, with a city council vote set for May 22.
• Opposition leader Holger Zastrow accuses Jähnigen of misallocating funds and bypassing the council in her decision-making process.
• The city operates 90 functional fountains, which were initially scheduled to run from April through October as a public cooling measure.
• The dispute highlights broader tensions over municipal budget priorities, urban amenities, and the city’s heat action strategy.