Local Political Actors and Arena

In this chapter lays out that the traditional format of a (“quasi-parliamentary”) local political system based on elected local councils and council-elected mayors has been profoundly reshaped since 1990 by the introduction of all Länder of direct democracy-characteristic procedures: the direct election of the mayor and county commissioner (Landrat), their possible direct-democratic recall and binding local referendums. Consequently in the triad of local council, local executive and local citizenry the position of the elected local executive has been significantly bolstered moving it towards a local “quasi-presidential” system. Moreover the chapter deals with council elections and the development and role of political parties and other local political groups on the local level arena.