Bettendorf the Nordstad is now turning its back
The meeting of the Bettendorf local council was undoubtedly a historical on Wednesday afternoon. The only point on the agenda was the crucial decision as to whether you want to take part in the fusion talks with the other four Northern Stad-municipalities Diekirch, Erpeldingen on the Sauer, Ettelbrück and sheer. To the day exactly one month After the citizens by referendum The municipal council of Bettendorf now voted for exactly the opposite.
Nordstad-Fusion: Finally the brake is out
First, Mayor Patrick Mergen reviewed the political events in the past few months around the participation of Bettendorf in further merger talks. And then asked who was to cancel the decision of the municipal council on October 23, 2024.
At that time it was decided with seven against four votes to definitely stay away from the exploratory talks. Patrick Mergen, Schöffe Lucien Kurtisi and Rätin Suzette Serres were in favor of, Schöffe Andy Denneden and the councilors Albert Back, Simone Hoffmann, Fabienne Goergen, Yves Kremer, Jill Kugener, Frank Schuler and José Vaz do Rio. So it was clear: the municipality of Bettendorf returns the Nordstad its back.
Meeting with other mayors failed
Since the end of July 2024, the municipality of Bettendorf had not been represented at the negotiating table, said Patrick Mergen. Therefore, after the referendum from last March, in which 57.4 percent of the citizens spoke out for the whereabouts in the merger process, a new meeting of the local council with the other four mayors.
The Bettendorfer councils only wanted to find out about the current state of affairs. But that was rejected, for which he had no understanding. « What was so daunting to deny us this exchange of information? » Asked Mergen.
A clear commitment to Northern Stad is required from Bettendorf
Then I could no longer look in the mirror.
Andy Derneden
Lay judge
However, it was clear that one did not want to wait until the planned referendum in 2027 to decide whether the municipality of Tandel did not want to work in the future. Because this neighboring community has been working very well in syndicates for ten years.
Almost 20 interested citizens had also gathered in the meeting room this time to pursue the debates. Photo: Nico Muller
In his part, Schöffe Andy Denneden confirmed his no to a merger with the large neighboring communities. If he changed his opinion now, he could no longer look in the mirror. He also wanted Bettendorf to remain a small village community and does not become a district. He still does not see any real advantage for Bettendorf in the event of integration into the Nordstad. Nevertheless, he wants to try to work with all neighboring communities in the future, and he would certainly not build a wall against the Nordstad.
A lay judge jumps over his shadow
Rätin Fabienne Goergen agreed with Andy Denneden. The Nordstad should come, but should not be as big as it is now sought. She only sees a Nordstad with the core communities of Diekirch, Ettelbrück and Erpeldingen on the Sauer.
Responsibility can mean not to share a video
Schöffe Lucien Kurtisi, who has always spoke out against a fusion of Bettendorf at the north Stad level, made a U-turn. Democracy also lives from respect for the will to voters. The voter is confident. In this respect, he wanted to jump over his shadow and no longer defend himself against further exploratory talks. Local councils have not been elected to enforce your own conviction, no matter what it costs, Lucien Kurtisi said.
There was no clear commitment to the Nordstad
For a year, the municipality of Bettendorf most recently drove a real taller course when it comes to northern Stad-Fusion. In the spring of 2024, the local politicians, like all other North Stadium communities, announced themselves via « Délibération Concordante » to continue the merger negotiations. However, they placed the condition of the municipality’s status of a « Center de Développement et d’Athraction ». After he had quickly put a stop to the request, the majority of the municipal council decided to get out in the municipal council.
In the bedendorfer parish hall, the topic of North Stadium Fusion is definitely off the table. Photo: Nico Muller
In contrast, however, the citizens’ initiative « per referendum fir d’Geng bedenduerf » had something and submitted an application so that the citizens in a referendum should decide on continued negotiation.
The Schöffenrat, which was divided into this question, tried to free himself from the Zwickmühle by threw the ball into the camp of the other Northern Stad communities. In a way, you should decide whether Bettendorf is still welcome or not. However, the game did not play the game and demanded a clear commitment to or against the North Stadium from the Bettendorfer politicians.
Nordstad-Fusion: Citizens are interviewed per forma
This was done at the session on Wednesday, with which the unspeakable back and forth that the merger negotiations are braking unnecessarily.
Citizens’ initiative is disappointed
After the referendum of March 23, in which 57.4 percent of the voters had spoken out for the continuation of the merger talks, the decision of the Bettendorfer municipal council to ignore the result ensures violent criticism at the beer initiative per referendum at the Gemeng Bettenduerf. The citizens’ initiative, which initiated the urn gang, speaks in a press release of a « broken trust in local democracy » and complains that the rejection not only ignored clear willingness to do so, but also the path to an open dialogue was finally blocked.
According to the initiative, a positive vote would not have meant an immediate fusion, but only opened the opportunity to clarify open questions well. « A ‘yes’ to continue the conversations would not have meant that the merger has already been decided. It means that objective facts could be put on the table – and you would have had the necessary time to clarify all questions, concerns and expectations in an open process. Despite disappointment, the initiative announces that it will continue to work for more transparency and citizen participation.
