The annually awarded Wilhelm Hoegner Prize this year goes to the people of Munich to honour the exemplary behaviour of the people living in the Bavarian capital during the huge refugee influx in the city during the summer of 2015, the SPD party announced yesterday (January 6).

“The spontaneous and crucial assistance and help for the refugees have made Munich shine. The people of Munich have impressively demonstrated why the Bavarian capital rightly bears the title of ‘Weltstadt mit Herz”(Metropolis with a Heart). For this reason, the SPD parliamentary group has awarded the its highest award, simply to say Thank You,” said SPD parliamentary leader Markus Rinderspacher.

"Dieter Reiter as the Mayor of Munich gave an example of what it means to care for people. He showed initiative, as the situation in the state refugee shelter at the Bayern Kaserne was becoming unbearable, "said Rinderspacher.

The renowned prized was named Wilhelm Hoegner, the father of the Bavarian Constitution.