Editing Dresden (section)

==Governance==
Dresden is one of Germany's 16 political centres{{what|date=August 2023}} and the capital of Saxony. It has institutions of democratic local self-administration that are independent from the capital functions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jura.uos.de/institut/jkr/gosachse.htm|title=Gemeindeordnung für den Freistaat Sachsen (SächsGemO), §2|access-date=27 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312043329/http://www.jura.uos.de/institut/jkr/gosachse.htm|archive-date=12 March 2007}}</ref>

Dresden hosted some international summits in recent years, such as the Petersburg Dialogue between Russia and Germany,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://petersburger-dialog.de/russland-in-dresden/ |title=Russland in Dresden |website=petersburger-dialog.de |language=de |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730011729/https://petersburger-dialog.de/russland-in-dresden/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the European Union's [[Interior minister|Minister of the Interior]] conference<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/jan/dresden-future-jha.pdf |title=Informal Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers |website=statewatch.org |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220075317/http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/jan/dresden-future-jha.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[G8]] labour ministers conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/g8-labor-ministers-call-for-more-social-engagement-by-business/a-2480945 |title=G8 Labor Ministers Call for More Social Engagement by Business |website=Deutsche Welle |date=7 May 2007 |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730004437/https://www.dw.com/en/g8-labor-ministers-call-for-more-social-engagement-by-business/a-2480945 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Mayor===
{{Main|City Council of Dresden}}
The [[city council]] is the legislative branch of the city government. The council gives orders to the mayor ({{langx|de|link=no|Bürgermeister}}) via resolutions and decrees, and thus also has some degree of executive power.<ref>Dresden.de: {{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_04.php|title=City Council|access-date=24 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205031703/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_04.php|archive-date=5 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_01.php|title=Dresden.de|access-date=24 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205031638/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_01.php|archive-date=5 February 2008}}</ref>

[[File:2022 Dresden mayoral election (2nd round).svg|thumb|350px|Results of the second round of the 2022 mayoral election]]

The first freely elected mayor after German reunification was [[Herbert Wagner (politician)|Herbert Wagner]] of the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU), who served from 1990 to 2001. The mayor was originally chosen by the city council, but since 1994 has been directly elected. Ingolf Roßberg of the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) served from 2001 until 2008. He was succeeded by [[Helma Orosz]] (CDU). [[Dirk Hilbert]] was elected mayor in 2015 under the banner "Independent Citizens for Dresden". He was nominated by the FDP and [[Free Voters]], and was endorsed by the CDU and [[Alternative for Germany|AfD]] in the runoff. The most recent mayoral election was held on 12 June 2022, with a runoff held on 10 July, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
|+<ref>[https://wahlen.dresden.de/2022/obw/index.html 1st round]</ref><ref>[https://wahlen.dresden.de/2022/obwzwg/index.html 2nd round]</ref>
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| '''[[Dirk Hilbert]]'''
| align=left| Independent Citizens for Dresden<br>{{small|([[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]], [[Free Voters|FW]], [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]])}}
| 66,165
| 32.5
| '''80,483'''
| '''45.3'''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| Eva Jähnigen
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]<br>{{small|(plus [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], [[The Left (Germany)|Left]], [[Pirate Party Germany|Pirates]] in the runoff)}}
| 38,473
| 18.9
| 67,947
| 38.3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Albrecht Pallas
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| 31,068
| 15.2
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Maximilian Krah]]
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]]
| 28,971
| 14.2
| 21,741
| 12.2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| André Schollbach
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]
| 20,898
| 10.3
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Marcus Fuchs
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 6,856
| 3.4
| 3,549
| 2.0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}| 
| align=left| Martin Schulte-Wissermann
| align=left| [[Pirate Party Germany|Pirate Party]]
| 5,975
| 2.9
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Sascha Wolff
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 2,695
| 1.3
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| Jan Pöhnisch
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]]
| 2,684
| 1.3
| 3,824
| 2.2
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 203,785
! 99.4
! 177,544
! 99.5
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 1,145
! 0.6
! 974
! 0.5
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 204,930
! 100.0
! 178,518
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 432,294
! 47.4
! 431,967
! 41.3
|}

===City council===
[[File:2024 Dresden City Council election - Vote strength.svg|thumb|350px|Strongest party by locality in the 2024 City Council election]]
The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
|+<ref>[https://wahlen.dresden.de/2024/srw/index.html Wahlen in Sachsen]</ref>
! colspan=2| Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 170,346
| 19.4
| {{increase}} 2.3
| 14
| {{increase}} 2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| 157,717
| 18.0
| {{decrease}} 0.3
| 13
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| 128,099
| 14.6
| {{decrease}} 5.9
| 10
| {{decrease}} 5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| 78,652
| 9.0
| {{increase}} 0.2
| 6
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor=ffe228| 
| align=left| [[Holger Zastrow|Team Zastrow/Alliance Saxony 24]]
| 71,163
| 8.1
| New
| 6
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke)
| 68,012
| 7.8
| {{decrease}} 8.4
| 5
| {{decrease}} 7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht}}| 
| align=left| [[Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht|Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance]] (BSW)
| 63,108
| 7.2
| New
| 5
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Free Voters Dresden (WV)
| 31,110
| 3.5
| {{decrease}} 1.8
| 2
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Pirate Party Germany]] (Piraten)
| 27,736
| 3.2
| {{increase}} 0.8
| 2
| {{increase}} 1
|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 24,464
| 2.8
| {{decrease}} 4.7
| 2
| {{decrease}} 3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]] (PARTEI)
| 16,363
| 1.9
| {{increase}} 0.1
| 1
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| bgcolor=009332| 
| align=left| [[Freie Sachsen|Free Saxons]] (FS)
| 13,304
| 1.5
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Volt Germany]] (Volt)
| 10,522
| 1.2
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Dissidents Dresden (DissDD)
| 8,365
| 1.0
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Free Citizens Dresden (FBD)
| 8,290
| 0.9
| {{decrease}} 0.6
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 877,251
! 96.3
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Invalid votes
! 3,802
! 1.3
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 303,717
! 100.0
! 
! 70
! ±0
|-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 429,280
! 70.8
! {{increase}} 3.9
! 
! 
|}

===Public institutions===
[[File:Dresden-Kultusministerium.jpg|thumb|The [[Sächsische Staatskanzlei]] (''Saxon State Chancellery'') is an institution assisting the President of the State.]]

As the capital of Saxony, Dresden is home to the [[Landtag of Saxony|Saxon state parliament]] (''Landtag'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/slt_online/start_eng.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315111458/http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/slt_online/start_eng.asp|url-status=dead|title=Sächsischer Landtag|archivedate=15 March 2008|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref> and the ministries of the Saxon Government. The controlling [[Constitutional Court of Saxony]] is in Leipzig. The highest Saxon court in civil and [[criminal law]], is the [[Higher Regional Court of Dresden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justiz.sachsen.de/olg/content/47.htm|title=Oberlandesgericht Dresden|access-date=25 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102044810/http://www.justiz.sachsen.de/olg/content/47.htm|archive-date=2 January 2008}}</ref>

Most of the Saxon state authorities are located in Dresden. Dresden is home to the Regional Commission of the [[Dresden (region)|Dresden Regierungsbezirk]], which is a controlling authority for the Saxon Government.

Like many cities in Germany, Dresden is also home to a local court, has a trade corporation and a Chamber of Industry and Trade and many subsidiaries of federal agencies (such as the Federal Labour Office or the [[Technisches Hilfswerk|Federal Agency for Technical Relief]]). It hosts some divisions of the German Customs and [[Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt|Waterways and Shipping Office]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsa-elbe.wsv.de/Webs/WSA/Elbe/DE/WSA-Elbe/05_AnfahrtAdressen/01_WSAElbe/Elbe.html |title=Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Elbe |website=wsa-elbe.wsv.de |language=de |access-date=17 November 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118155633/https://www.wsa-elbe.wsv.de/Webs/WSA/Elbe/DE/WSA-Elbe/05_AnfahrtAdressen/01_WSAElbe/Elbe.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Dresden is home to a military subdistrict command, but no longer has large military units as it did in the past. Dresden is the traditional location for [[officer (armed forces)|army officer]] schooling in Germany, today carried out in the {{ill|Offizierschule des Heeres|de}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/heer/organisation/ausbildungskommando/offizierschule-des-heeres |title=Offizierschule des Heeres |website=bundeswehr.de |language=de |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=29 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529101934/https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/heer/organisation/ausbildungskommando/offizierschule-des-heeres |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Local affairs===
[[File:Waldschlösschenbrücke Dresden 2024 Luftbild Toni Klemm 2500px.jpg|thumb|The [[Waldschlösschen Bridge]] is a subject of controversy in Dresden and other parts of Germany.]]
Local affairs in Dresden often centre around the [[urban planning|urban development]] of the city and its spaces. Architecture and the design of [[public space|public places]] is a controversial subject. Discussions about the [[Waldschlößchenbrücke]], a bridge under construction across the Elbe, received international attention because of its position across the [[Dresden Elbe Valley]] [[World Heritage Site]]. The city held a public referendum in 2005 on whether to build the bridge, prior to UNESCO expressing doubts about the compatibility between bridge and heritage. Its construction caused loss of World Heritage site status in 2009.<ref>[[UNESCO]]: [https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/265 World Heritage Committee threatens to remove Dresden Elbe Valley (Germany) from World Heritage List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730232811/https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/265 |date=30 July 2020 }}</ref>

In 2006, the city of Dresden sold its publicly [[subsidized housing]] organization, WOBA Dresden GmbH, to the US-based private [[investment company]] [[Fortress Investment Group]]. The city received {{Nowrap|987.1 million}} euro and paid off its remaining loans, making it the first large city in Germany to become debt-free. Opponents of the sale were concerned about Dresden's loss of control over the [[subsidized housing|subsidized housing market]].<ref>Dresden: {{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/index.html?node=33040|title=Saleof the WOBA Dresden GmbH|access-date=26 February 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312023055/http://www.dresden.de/index.html?node=33040|archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

Dresden has been the center of groups and activities of far-right movements. Politicians and politics of [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD) have a strong backing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2014-12/pegida-dresden-politische-tradition|title=Pegida suits Saxony (Pegida passt nach Sachsen)|newspaper=Die Zeit |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=2 November 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921204231/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2014-12/pegida-dresden-politische-tradition|url-status=live |last1=Lühmann |first1=Michael }}</ref> Starting in October 2014, [[Pegida|PEGIDA]], a [[nationalistic]] political movement based in Dresden has been organizing weekly demonstrations against what it perceives as the [[Islamization]] of Europe at the height of the [[European migrant crisis]]. As the number of demonstrators increased to 15,000 in December 2014, so has the international media coverage of it.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirschbaum|first1=Erik|title=Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West quickly gathering support in Germany|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/patriotic-europeans-against-the-islamisation-of-the-west-quickly-gathering-support-in-germany-20141216-128105.html|access-date=16 December 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 December 2014|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216050101/http://www.smh.com.au/world/patriotic-europeans-against-the-islamisation-of-the-west-quickly-gathering-support-in-germany-20141216-128105.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, since 2015, the number of demonstrators has decreased significantly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/pegida-in-dresden-demonstrieren-tausende-gegen-auslaenderfeindliche-bewegung-a-1292451.html |title=Kundgebung von Pegida – Tausende Gegendemonstranten |website=Spiegel Online |language=de |date=20 October 2019 |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730040733/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/pegida-in-dresden-demonstrieren-tausende-gegen-auslaenderfeindliche-bewegung-a-1292451.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, the Dresden City Council passed a policy statement against "anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, misanthropic and right-wing-extremist developments".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spd-fraktion-dresden.de/2019/10/22/nazinotstand-grundsatzerklaerung-zum-gegenwirken-antidemokratischer-antipluralistischer-menschenfeindlicher-und-rechtsextremistischer-entwicklungen-in-der-dresdner-stadtgesellschaft-staerkung-d/ |title=Nazinotstand? – Grundsatzerklärung zum Gegenwirken antidemokratischer, antipluralistischer, menschenfeindlicher und rechtsextremistischer Entwicklungen in der Dresdner Stadtgesellschaft – Stärkung der Zivilgesellschaft |website=spd-fraktion-dresden.de |date=22 October 2019 |language=de |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730032931/http://spd-fraktion-dresden.de/2019/10/22/nazinotstand-grundsatzerklaerung-zum-gegenwirken-antidemokratischer-antipluralistischer-menschenfeindlicher-und-rechtsextremistischer-entwicklungen-in-der-dresdner-stadtgesellschaft-staerkung-d/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The motion was originally put forward by the satirical political party [[Die Partei]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mdr.de/sachsen/dresden/dresden-radebeul/dresden-ruft-nazinotstand-aus-100.html |title=Debatte über "Nazinotstand": Dresden verabschiedet Grundsatzerklärung gegen Rechts |website=mdr.de |language=de |date=31 October 2019 |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512081830/https://www.mdr.de/sachsen/dresden/dresden-radebeul/dresden-ruft-nazinotstand-aus-100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bündnis 90/Die Grünen]], [[The Left (Germany)|Die Linke]], [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] and Die Partei voted in favour of the statement. The [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]] and [[Alternative for Germany|AfD]] voted against it. Among other things, the statement calls on strengthening democracy, protecting human rights and raising spending on (political) education.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/nazinotstand-dresden-fasst-beschluss-gegen-rechtsextremismus,RgaXyqG |title=Dresden ruft "Nazinotstand" aus |access-date=2 November 2019 |language=de |archive-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102102428/https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/nazinotstand-dresden-fasst-beschluss-gegen-rechtsextremismus,RgaXyqG |url-status=live }}</ref>