Sternberg's re-election in LUP: A victory in the shadow of the election campaign!

Sternberg's re-election in LUP: A victory in the shadow of the election campaign!

There's news from Ludwigslust-Parchim! In the district elections that took place today, June 17, 2025, Stefan Sternberg of the SPD was re-elected in the first round with 58 percent of the vote. Again Northern Courier reported, all incumbents in the districts of Vorpommern-Greifswald, Vorpommern-Rügen, Mecklenburg Lake District and Ludwigslust-Parchim can look back on being re-elected.

But Sternberg's election campaign was not without controversy. Critics accuse him of having achieved advantages over his political competitors through a massive and counter-intuitive campaign. In particular, the number of large posters and the encounters on social media were perceived as conspicuous. According to that daily news Prominent supporters such as Jörg Klingohr and Gerd Kropf, who had economic connections to the district during their time between 2020 and 2024, also use their platform to support Sternberg.

Election campaign under the microscope

Reporting on the election campaign shows that the SPD asserts that the effort was no more expensive than in the election period seven years ago and was in the upper five-figure range. Transparency International raises concerns about the lack of transparency about the economic relationships between Sternberg and his supporters. These critical voices are supported by Wolfgang Waldmüller, the district chairman of the CDU, who describes the approach as not welcome for fair political competition.

In a political environment in which the distinction between election campaign and non-election campaign periods is becoming increasingly difficult, the dynamic in Ludwigslust-Parchim is an interesting case. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the election campaign must not only be well planned, but also creative and appealing. According to an analysis, the successful campaign is by no means dependent on the popularity of the candidates alone, but also heavily on the political environment and corporate strategy. The focus on voter mobilization is crucial in the final phase.

• Stefan Sternberg (SPD) – 58% der Stimmen
• Dietmar Friedhoff (AfD) – Bundestagserfahrung ohne prominente Unterstützung
• Simone Borchardt (CDU) – ähnlich im Hintergrund

The coming weeks will show how the political landscape will develop as a result of Sternberg's re-election and what measures will be taken to improve transparency and equal opportunities. Ultimately, it is not only the election goals and content that are important for future elections, but also the way in which election campaigns are conducted. After all, it is emphasized that a transparent and fair election campaign is the cornerstone of our democracy.