SPD slams CDU’s ‘reckless’ fibre-optic funding plan for Solingen
SPD council leader Iris Preuß-Buchholz has sharply criticised a CDU proposal to fund fibre-optic expansion through Solingen’s municipal budget. She calls the plan financially reckless and accuses the party of shifting risks onto taxpayers. Her comments follow a motion that would tie future civil engineering projects to automatic fibre rollouts.
Preuß-Buchholz described the CDU’s approach as 'dangerous for Solingen', warning it could burden the city with unpredictable costs. She pointed out that the council normally restricts major spending to formal budget talks, not ad-hoc decisions. The SPD leader also questioned the party’s sudden enthusiasm for public investment, given its usual stance of 'private before public'.
The motion left her baffled for three key reasons. First, she noted that Mayor Daniel Flemm (CDU) had previously dismissed a city-wide fibre strategy—yet the party now claims to champion expansion. Second, she asked why Telekom CEO Timotheus Höttges, a Solingen native, had done little to support local infrastructure. Finally, she called the plan an 'invitation to cherry-pick', questioning how the CDU would justify it to schools still waiting for upgrades. Preuß-Buchholz contrasted the proposal with Mayor Flemm’s predecessor, Tim Kurzbach, who had pushed for a professional, city-wide fibre plan. She argued the CDU’s current motion lacked the same strategic vision.
The dispute highlights deep divisions over how Solingen should fund digital infrastructure. Preuß-Buchholz insists the CDU’s plan risks saddling the city with long-term financial strain. The council will now debate whether to adopt the motion or pursue alternative funding models.
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