Potsdam makes a historic election: Noosha Aubel as the first female mayor!

Potsdam makes a historic election: Noosha Aubel as the first female mayor!

Election and change in Potsdam: The mayoral election caused a stir, especially when the independent Noosha Aubel won with a brilliant 72.9 percent against her challenger Severin Fischer from the SPD. This result was released on October 13, 2025 and marks a turning point for the city. With this victory, Potsdam will be governed by a woman for the first time, marking a historic moment in local politics. This is all the more remarkable since the SPD has been the strongest force in the city since the fall of communism and was most recently represented by Mike Schubert, who was voted out in a referendum. He lost his office thanks to allegations of abuse of office, known as the VIP ticket affair.

Aubel, the previous head of administration for education, youth, culture and sport under Schubert, had asked to be fired and moved to Flensburg for a while. But her return to the political arena as a non-partisan candidate was well received, supported by the Greens, Volt and “Die Andere”. Her victory in a race accompanied by a massive election campaign also shows that she also won in districts that had a majority for the AfD in the first round, even if voter turnout in the south of Potsdam was up to 50 percent below the citywide average. This reflects the opinions of many residents, some of whom, like a passerby in the Schlaatz district, are skeptical about elections and think they achieve nothing.

Challenges and expectations

What's next for Potsdam? Even though Aubel only received 34.0 percent of the vote in the first round, this victory is a strong signal. Their climate concept, which envisages a car-free city center, was heavily criticized by opposing politicians such as Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke and former Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Aubel, however, firmly rejected these accusations and continued to advocate for her vision.

But the challenges that lie ahead of Aubel should not be underestimated. She enters the political stage in a city that is deeply divided and in which the discourse is often polarized. The high number of people who do not take part in elections underlines that many have lost trust in the political system. Studies on voter behavior show that AfD voters in the first round in particular show a loss of trust in democracy and did not vote in the runoff election. This represents a task for Aubel right from the start of her term in office.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the political landscape in Potsdam will develop. Will Aubel be able to master the difficult balancing act between the most diverse interest groups?

The coming months are likely to be exciting, especially for citizens who want positive change. There is a lot to do, and a look into the future could show whether trust in politics can be regained. Let's wait and see what the new mayor brings to the table.

For more information, read the detailed reporting on the election process and the analysis of the situation in Potsdam maz online and the South Germans.