Cologne's Government: Who's In Control Of The City?

Cologne is a city with a rich history and a diverse range of cultural and economic attributes. Located in western Germany, it is the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth-most populous city in Germany. With nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million in the Cologne-Bonn urban region, Cologne is a significant urban centre. The city is known for its medieval architecture, including the famous Cologne Cathedral, and its historical Roman roots. The city's government operates under a Council-Administrator form, with legislative power vested in the City Council, comprising the Mayor and four other elected members. The Council appoints a professional City Administrator to manage the administration of the city's business. The city's administration is also supported by the Lord Mayor, who leads the city council.

The city's administration

The city of Cologne in Germany is the administrative centre of one of the five major administrative districts of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city's administration is led by the mayor and three deputy mayors. The mayor is also known as the Oberbürgermeister or "chief mayor".

The city council, or Kölner Stadtrat, is the legislative body of the city and determines all city policies. It is made up of the mayor and four other elected council members. The council appoints a professional city administrator, who is responsible for the administration of all city business. The council also appoints citizens to various advisory boards and commissions.

The city council meets twice a month, on the first and third Mondays, at the Cologne City Hall, or Kölner Rathaus, which is Germany's oldest, with a history spanning some 900 years. The building is located in the Innenstadt district, off Hohe Straße, and set between the two squares of Rathausplatz and Alter Markt.

Cologne's long tradition as a free imperial city has created a unique political climate. Various interest groups often form networks beyond party boundaries, resulting in a web of relationships and obligations known as the 'Cologne coterie'. This has sometimes led to an unusual distribution of power within the city government and, at times, degenerated into corruption.

The mayor and deputy mayors

The government of Cologne, Germany, is led by the mayor and three deputy mayors. The current mayor is Henriette Reker, who was re-elected for a second term in 2020. She is an independent candidate with the support of the CDU, FDP, and Greens.

The mayor of Cologne is known as the Lord Mayor, and the position has existed since 1815. The role of Lord Mayor is to head the city's administration, which also includes the city council. The city council, or Kölner Stadtrat, is made up of elected officials who govern the city alongside the mayor.

The city council consists of members from various political parties, including the Alliance 90/The Greens, the Social Democratic Party, the Christian Democratic Union, and the Free Democratic Party, among others. The council meets regularly to discuss and make decisions on city policies and issues.

Cologne's city hall, or Kölner Rathaus, is a historical building located in the Innenstadt district. It is Germany's oldest, with a history spanning some 900 years. The building has been added to over the centuries, with each section constructed in a different architectural style, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Modern Movement. The oldest part is the Saalbau, or roofed hall, which dates back to 1330.

The city council

The council includes the Mayor and four other elected members, who appoint a professional City Administrator to manage the administration of all city business. The council is led by the Oberbürgermeister (Lord Mayor).

The building consists of several structures, added in varying styles over the centuries:

• The 14th-century historic town hall
• The 15th-century Gothic-style tower
• The 16th-century Renaissance-style loggia and cloister (the Löwenhof)
• The 20th-century Modern Movement atrium (the Piazzetta)

The oldest part of the building is the Saalbau, which dates back to 1330 and is named after the Hansasaal, a large assembly hall. The council tower, or Ratsturm, was commissioned by the Cologne guilds and built between 1407 and 1414. It consists of five storeys and reaches a height of 61 metres. The Renaissance-style loggia, or Rathauslaube, was built between 1569 and 1573 and functions as an entrance to the main hall at ground level and a balcony for the upper floor.

The City Hall is located on the site of the former Ancient Roman Praetorium, which until 475 was the seat of the Roman Governor of Germania Inferior.

The Lord Mayor

The role of Lord Mayor in Cologne has a long history. The city council during the 11th century is a prominent example of self-gained municipal autonomy in medieval cities. The first established council hall dates back to 1135, and the coat of arms of Cologne, first mentioned in 1114, is Europe's oldest municipal coat of arms.

The City Hall is located on the site of the former Ancient Roman Praetorium, which was the seat of the Roman Governor of Germania Inferior until the year 475. The building has been added to over the centuries in varying architectural styles, including the 14th-century historic town hall, the 15th-century Gothic-style tower, and the 16th-century Renaissance-style loggia.

Cologne's long tradition of a free imperial city has created a unique political climate. Various interest groups often form networks beyond party boundaries, resulting in a web of relationships and obligations called the 'Cologne coterie'.

The chief mayor

The city of Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany and the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is governed by an elected council, which is presided over by a chief mayor, currently Henriette Reker. The mayor received 52.66% of the vote in the 2015 municipal election and was re-elected for a second term in 2020, receiving 59.27% of the vote.

The role of the chief mayor is to oversee the city's administration, along with the three deputy mayors. The mayor also works with the city council, which serves a term of five years and is responsible for determining all city policies.

Cologne's city hall, known as Kölner Rathaus, is a historical building located in the Innenstadt district. It is Germany's oldest, with a history spanning some 900 years. The building has been added to over the centuries, with each section built in a different architectural style. The oldest part is the Saalbau, which dates back to 1330 and houses the Hansasaal, a large assembly hall. The Gothic-style Ratsturm (Council Tower) was added between 1407 and 1414 and is adorned with exterior stone figures. The Renaissance-style loggia, or Rathauslaube, was built between 1569 and 1573 and features a two-storey, five-bay arcade. The most recent addition is the Modern Movement atrium, built in the postwar period.

Cologne has a long tradition of being a free imperial city, which has created a unique political climate. Various interest groups form networks beyond party boundaries, resulting in a complex web of relationships and obligations, known as the 'Cologne coterie'.

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