Volunteer or Full-Time? Mayors in Small Communities - Germany's volunteer mayors face uncertain future after rule changes
Germany's smaller towns often rely on volunteer mayors to lead their communities. These Ehrenbeamte—unpaid officials—have traditionally served in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents. But a 2023 rule change lowered the population threshold to 2,500, raising questions about how many will continue in the role after the latest local elections.
Under Bavarian law, towns with fewer than 2,500 people now automatically have a volunteer mayor, unless the local council decides otherwise. For those with populations between 2,500 and 5,000, a full-time mayor is standard, though councils can still choose a volunteer. In larger towns—those with over 5,000 residents—a professional mayor is mandatory.
Before the threshold adjustment, data showed a clear split in smaller communities. In towns of 1,001 to 2,000 people, 499 volunteer mayors served alongside just 95 full-time ones. For slightly larger municipalities, between 3,001 and 5,000 residents, the numbers shifted to 32 volunteers and 386 professionals.
The workload for volunteers can be heavy. Annika Popp, the volunteer mayor of Leupoldsgrün, has spoken openly about the demands of the job. She believes a full-time position would better suit the responsibilities involved. Meanwhile, Kristan von Waldenfels, mayor of Lichtenberg, balances his role with a seat in the Bavarian state parliament for the CSU.
Bavaria currently has around 800 volunteer mayors. But with the March 2023 local elections completed, that number is expected to fall as more councils opt for full-time leadership.
The shift in population thresholds means fewer towns will qualify for volunteer mayors by default. Councils now face a choice: keep an unpaid official or switch to a full-time one. The outcome will shape how smaller communities are governed in the years ahead.
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