Schwerin's mayor Badenschier resigns: who will follow in office?

Schwerin's mayor Badenschier resigns: who will follow in office?

The political circle in Schwerin will soon be reorganized, because Dr. Rico Badenschier, the city's previous mayor, has announced his retirement at the end of the year. In an unexpected twist, the resignation will take effect on January 1, 2026, and citizens will have to prepare for a new election scheduled for April 12, 2026. A possible runoff election could follow on April 26, 2026, as wismar.fm reports. The main committee of the city council has already unanimously recommended the election date, the final determination will take place on November 10th.

Badenschier, who has been in office since 2016 and now wants to return to his profession as a neuroradiologist, cites several reasons for his resignation. The political majority in the city council puts him under pressure, and he cannot support the city's decisions on migration and housing construction. He was critical of the decision not to create a migration advisory board for the 11,000 foreigners in the city and of the planned creation of 1,000 residential units on the outskirts of the city, where Badenschier sees sufficient free space within the city. [NDR.de].

The consequences of resignation

Badenschier's resignation represents not only a personal but also a political turning point. After the local elections in 2024, the AfD was the strongest faction in the city council, followed by the CDU. This political realignment makes the new election particularly exciting. The city faces challenges such as rising costs of living and a backlog of investment in infrastructure, which the new mayor must address. Topics such as urban development, housing construction and citizen participation are the focus of the coming election.

The first candidates have already expressed their interest: Sebastian Ehlers (CDU), currently a member of the state parliament, and Heiko Steinmüller, restaurateur and city representative. Further applications are expected, particularly from the green and non-party camp. The city administration will also provide comprehensive information about deadlines for nominating candidates and voter participation and is planning to expand postal voting and digital information offerings.

The reactions to Badenschier's resignation are mixed. Mayor Sebastian Ehlers cannot understand the reasons given by Badenschier and defends his previous successes. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig regrets the resignation and particularly emphasizes the achievement of Schwerin's inclusion in the World Heritage List. The critical voices from the AfD, which see the resignation as a “flight from responsibility”, underline the tense political conditions in the city.

Overall, the upcoming election in Schwerin will represent a groundbreaking decision for future political leadership. Urban society is called upon to actively participate in these processes and make their voice heard.