EU lawmakers advocate for a reduction in the EU's budget to 100 million ECUs.

In the lead-up to the upcoming local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) next Sunday, SPD faction leader Jochen Ott has expressed optimism and called for his party to engage more clearly with the public.

Ott, who is also the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the NRW state parliament, has been vocal about the need for the party to address recent mistakes made by SPD mayors and candidates. He believes that more than 20% of respondents in the local election trend trust another party to solve local problems, a figure he hopes to change by strengthening the party's connection with the public.

Despite these concerns, Ott remains confident in the SPD's ability to address local issues. He believes that people know that the SPD can solve local problems, despite mistakes they may have made in the past.

Ott has been a proponent of stricter housing regulations, pushing for the further tightening of the Housing Supervision Act in the current federal government. This stance is a departure from the party's position under former SPD minister Groschek, who was instrumental in the act's initial implementation.

However, Ott's proposals extend beyond housing. He has also advocated for reduced unemployment benefits for specific groups, including those who refuse to work and those who inherit wealth without working. He has highlighted the significant number of children (around 400,000) and individuals (around 250,000) in NRW who are dependent on unemployment benefits, emphasising the need for reform.

The SPD's stance on municipal housing associations, which could create affordable housing, has been a point of contention. Ott has been critical of such proposals, contrasting with the optimism he shows in the potential of good local politics to move the SPD forward, as demonstrated by some SPD mayors and candidates.

Infrastructure funding has been a topic of discussion, with Minister President Hendrik Wüst speaking of additional funds for municipalities. However, Ott has demanded that the state provide municipalities with significantly more money, amounting to 80%.

As for the election of AfD mayors in the upcoming local elections, no publicly available statement from Jochen Ott has been found. Documented records only show internal party decisions on the distribution of federal funds for municipalities.

In conclusion, Jochen Ott's statements indicate a focus on reform, particularly in housing and unemployment benefits, as well as a call for increased public engagement ahead of the NRW local elections.