Potsdam chooses new mayor: Candidates and deadlines in focus!

Potsdam chooses new mayor: Candidates and deadlines in focus!

Potsdam, Deutschland - On September 21, 2025, citizens in Potsdam may choose their new head of the city. The choice takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is considered one of the most important communal elections in the city. Around 145,000 voters who are older than 16 years of age have their main residence in Potsdam and have German or EU citizenship can hand over their voices. This reports Maz-online.de .

After the election of the former mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) in May 2025, where a new election was required within five months, a colorful range of candidates is now facing election. These include Severin Fischer (SPD), Noosha Aubel (independent), Willo Göpel (CDU) and Chaled-Uwe Said (AfD). In addition, the individual applicants Bernd Blase, a 61-year-old management consultant, and the nurse Jörn Karlipp compete. The deadline for submitting the election proposals ends on July 17, 2025, which not only means a tight schedule for the candidates, but also for the voters who should get a first impression.

candidates and participation

A total of around 143,000 eligible voters are invited to take part in the election. A great focus is on the turnout, which has often been low in the past. According to Political-bildung-brandenburg.de , less than half of the citizens often took part in the last elections. The reasons for this include inadequate information about the candidates and their programs as well as a lack of time for personal encounters.

An absolute majority of 50 percent of the votes is necessary to be chosen directly. If this does not succeed in the first ballot, a runoff election will take place on October 12, 2025. This regulation is part of the Brandenburg Local Election Act, which also applies to the current choice.

important deadlines and rules

The election providers who are not in the city parliament, in the state parliament in Brandenburg or in the Bundestag must collect at least 112 support signatures from Potsdamers entitled to vote in order to be able to take part in the election. This is an additional challenge for some candidates. Mayor Burkhard Exner will continue to run the business until the official business is handed over to the new mayor.

Further information on the upcoming mayor election is available on the official website of the city of Potsdam, which also provides the details of the election and the candidates. It remains to be seen how voters will decide and whether the turnout is increasing this year.