A political dispute has escalated in the small Bavarian town of Bad Griesbach after Mayor Jürgen Fundke refused to register a cohort of Ukrainian refugees, claiming that local services are already overwhelmed. However, he was undermined by his deputy.
Last week, Fundke expressed frustration over what he called the “unfair distribution” of refugees, stating that public infrastructure, particularly schools and kindergartens, had reached their limits. However, his concerns were ignored by district authorities, and the responsibility was handed to his deputy, Georg Greil, to ensure registration was completed.
Fundke justified his decision by pointing to what he described as an unsustainable influx of refugees.
“We are being unfairly burdened compared to other municipalities,” he said, emphasizing that local services were stretched thin. Despite this, the district office gave him a deadline to comply with registration laws. When he refused, the district appointed his deputy, Greil, to take over.
Greil defended his actions, explaining that the refusal to register refugees was unlawful. “The registration law is a federal law and the town hall has no leeway. I took an oath of office, and in my opinion, the first mayor’s order cannot be reconciled with that. I cannot support it,” Greil stated. He emphasized that the legal requirement to register Ukrainians must be upheld so they can receive the necessary welfare benefits and access to education.
Greil has faced public backlash from locals supportive of Fundke’s stance who have labeled him a “stooge” of the district office and accused him of betraying the town.
“There is a lot of social envy and racism,” Greil claimed, noting that he receives numerous anonymous insults via email. However, Greil maintained his decision was not just about legal compliance, but also a matter of humanitarian responsibility. “The Ukrainians come from a war zone, and Germany has decided to help them,” he added.
Fundke, on the other hand, remained defiant. Speaking to Bayerischer Rundfunk, he stated, “What do you want to do? Suspend me? They can’t and shouldn’t.” He continued to express frustration, insisting that Bad Griesbach and nearby municipalities were unfairly targeted for refugee resettlement, while other areas did not face similar pressures.
The district office refuted Fundke’s claims, stating that Bad Griesbach’s refugee accommodation facilities are far from overburdened. “The shared accommodation in Bad Griesbach has one of the lowest occupancy rates in the district,” a spokesperson said. The town currently hosts around 135 Ukrainian refugees in a former hotel, with space for 169 people, and another 100 refugees reportedly staying in private homes.
The controversy has sparked a wider debate in the town of 9,375 residents, with Fundke’s stance gaining support from locals concerned about public service saturation. The phone line at the town hall has “hardly been idle” since the dispute began, according to town manager Markus Kleinmann. “We get endless calls,” Kleinmann said, noting that many messages voiced support for Fundke’s actions.
