Chancellor Merz visits Schwerin: A look behind the crime figures!

Chancellor Merz visits Schwerin: A look behind the crime figures!

On Tuesday, November 4th, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Schwerin. The visit is not only a sign of political solidarity, but also an opportunity to meet local representatives. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig will receive the Chancellor. A special highlight of the visit will be his entry in the State Chancellery's Golden Book, followed by participation in a cabinet meeting. The focus will also be on the medical technology company Ypsomed, which is planning to build a second factory in the region. Merz's second trip to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV) this year, to Rostock in August, underlines the importance of the region for national political decisions, as the Ostsee Zeitung reports.

But not everything is going well in Schwerin. According to current police crime statistics, the number of crimes in 2023 increased by more than 25 percent compared to the previous year. A total of 11,423 crimes were registered, which is 2,305 more than in 2022. Residence violations are particularly problematic, some of which can be traced back to the initial reception center for refugees. Police Chief Nils Rosada explained that there has been an increase of around 10 percent in other crimes, which is putting additional pressure on the security situation in the city. Northern Courier reports that among the crimes there is also an increase in brutality crimes, property crimes and drug crimes.

Elections and awards in sight

The political events in the city are not only dominated by the Chancellor's visit. Schwerin and Wismar will elect new mayors on April 12, 2026, and possible runoff elections could take place on April 26. The political exchange is promoted by Merz's visit as well as the interest in the further development of the region.

A cultural highlight that is coming up in the next few months is the award for Armin Mueller-Stahl. The celebrated actor will receive the “Golden Ox” for his artistic work in Schwerin, with the awards ceremony scheduled for May 9, 2026 at the Capitol. At the same time, a film art festival homage will take place from May 5th to 10th, 2026, which will honor the importance of art in the region. This shows that Schwerin also has a lot to offer culturally, quite apart from the political challenges that the city is facing.

A small ray of hope also comes from the “Mama Chocolate” café, which was awarded third place in the MV State Integration Prize for its valuable contribution to integration work. With her commitment, founder Gunhild Nienkerk has not only found a place in the catering industry, but also in people's hearts.

The developments in Schwerin are diverse. While politics and crime present their challenges, the city also shines through cultural achievements and social projects. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and what impulses the Chancellor's visit will provide.