Wimmer vs. Kern: Who will solve the crisis in the Berchtesgaden district?

Wimmer vs. Kern: Who will solve the crisis in the Berchtesgaden district?

What can be reported about the upcoming district elections in Berchtesgadener Land? Bartl Wimmer, the Green candidate and former entrepreneur, is in the spotlight. Together with the leader of the Green Party, Katharina Schulze, he discussed topics such as hospital policy, public transport and, above all, the challenges in housing construction. The district office is in a difficult situation, not least because of the financial difficulties that Wimmering discusses. Despite these circumstances, he emphasizes that the district is treatable and changes must be made to improve the situation. The incumbent district administrator, Bernhard Kern, has announced that he will not stand for election in 2026 in order to concentrate on the mayoral position in Halblech.

Wimmer's approach is multifaceted: He has already stabilized the tourism region's special purpose association and would like to bring this experience to the district office. For him, public transport is the biggest problem in the region. In particular, he is committed to free bus travel for guests and is planning to have self-sufficient transport by mid-2027. He is also aiming to set up a cross-border transport network with Salzburg from January 1, 2027. He also called for a realignment of financing in the Southeast Bavaria clinic network, as massive investments in clinics and education are urgently needed, but also financially challenging.

Affordable housing as a key issue

The topic of housing construction played a central role in the discussion. Wimmer emphasized that although the district is plagued by major challenges, the quality of life can be sustainably improved with a targeted approach to housing construction. The need to create affordable housing is also increasingly being reinforced by federal politicians. The federal government is planning to ease the pressure on the housing market by making it easier for municipalities and extending the rent cap. For example, the demands of the Greens and the Left in this regard became increasingly louder so as not to lose sight of social aspects in the living area.

A specialist conference held in November 2025 discussed similar topics. Experts emphasized that affordable housing remains one of the key policy challenges, with a focus on high construction costs and the availability of climate-friendly housing solutions. The findings from this conference underscore the urgent need to distribute housing stock efficiently and develop innovative solutions to improve people's quality of life. Wimmer approaches the topic with a positive attitude and points to progress in photovoltaic projects that can contribute to sustainability.

The challenges in the district

In view of the upcoming elections and the challenges facing the district, the price of milk, footpaths in road projects and responsibilities were also taken into account. Wimmer is fighting to ensure that the district remains able to act despite the difficult economic situation. With around 500 employees in the district office, he seems to be striving to increase the efficiency of the administrative apparatus in order to be able to adequately meet the challenges.

With all of these topics in hand, Wimmer and his colleagues are starting an exciting election campaign that is about making the district sustainable and future-oriented. Schulze's support shows that the Greens are also relying on supra-regional expertise to improve the local situation. The district may be in dire straits, but a proactive approach could turn the tide.