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New mayor for Potsdam: six candidates in the race!
Potsdam elects new mayors: Six candidates are standing for election on October 12th after Schubert was voted out.
New mayor for Potsdam: six candidates in the race!
The political landscape in Potsdam is boiling after former mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) was voted out of office in a referendum on May 25, 2025. Almost 52,000 Potsdam residents took part in this important decision, which represents a considerable mobilization among the approximately 143,000 eligible voters. With 36,228 yes votes, Schubert was voted out after being criticized for poor management and poor communication, including the so-called VIP ticket affair, which ultimately led to his downfall. The referendum was supported by all factions except the SPD, which illustrates the alienation within politics. This is a remarkable turn in the city's history, as Schubert was the first mayor to be voted out of office since the fall of communism. In May 1998, Horst Gramlich (SPD) suffered a similar fate.
The election campaign for his successor now begins with the deselection. The election committee opened the doors to the candidates on September 21st: six men and one woman applied to be their successor. These include Severin Fischer (SPD), Clemens Viehrig (CDU), Chaled-Uwe Said (AfD), Dirk Harder (non-party, but supported by the Left), Michael Reichert (Free Voters), Alexander Dietmar Wietschel (The Party) and Noosha Aubel (non-party, supported by the Greens/The Others/Volt). Interest is high, but competition is strong - five applicants failed to meet the requirements that required 112 valid supporting signatures.
Important dates and participation
The elections take place in a special environment. Stefan Tolksdorf, the returning officer, emphasizes the difficulty of making concrete predictions about the outcome of the competition. The atmosphere becomes all the more exciting because the election campaign falls during the summer holidays, which is considered rather unusual. The deadlines are clear: election notifications will be sent out from August 11th and documents for postal voting can also be requested from this date. The runoff election, in the event that no candidate achieves an absolute majority of 50%, is scheduled for October 12th.
Voter turnout in Potsdam was 53% in the last local election in 2018, but fell to below 40% in the runoff election. This raises the question of how citizens can be mobilized in this election to support a proper electoral system where citizens can exercise their responsibility and power through transparent, direct elections. The Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights that local elections in Germany are fundamental elements of democracy.
The challenges for the candidates
However, the challenge for the new candidates will not only be to secure their election campaigns - they must also meet the high expectations of voters. Whether it is about transparency in administration, improving communication or solving existing problems in the city, the trust of citizens must be regained. Opinions about the political debate are divided, with many calling for clarity in the strategic management of municipal companies.
The path for the new candidates is therefore paved with challenges and opportunities that must be mastered in a democratic process. It remains exciting to see how the elections develop and which candidate will make it to town hall. RBB will continue to monitor developments critically.