Torsten Gellrich: AfD candidate for Moritzburg causes a stir!

Torsten Gellrich: AfD candidate for Moritzburg causes a stir!

Torsten Gellrich becomes the AfD's candidate for mayor

On October 30, 2025, Torsten Gellrich was officially nominated as the AfD candidate for the mayoral election in Moritzburg. At 45, the entrepreneur from Friedewald brings a wide range of experience to politics. Gellrich, who was born in Radebeul, is not only a self-employed master automotive technician, but also a committed local member of the local council and district council. As a family man, he has clear visions for the future of Moritzburg and plans to contribute his knowledge and skills to local politics.

But what drives Gellrich? His local policy priorities include strengthening Moritzburg's tourism potential, promoting leisure activities and exploiting the opportunities offered by Dresden's chip industry. He also wants to promote the modernization of the cycle and path systems, support youth and club work and promote the digitalization of the administration.

Challenge from competitors

In the mayoral election on March 22, 2026, Gellrich will compete with Marcel Vetter from the CDU and Katrin Sontag, an independent public prosecutor. The incumbent, Jörg Hänisch, is retiring, which could permanently change the political landscape in Moritzburg.

In a political climate that is increasingly polarized, Gellrich's candidacy is not just a personal move, but also part of a larger trend. According to reports from Volksverpetzer, the AfD has appointed the first mayors in East Germany since 2023, indicating the party's strategic positioning as a "career party" and showing where the party is trying to gain influence at the local level. In this development, local debates are increasingly challenged by the way in which the AfD operates, which is also reflected in a changed debate culture.

What does the future look like for Moritzburg and beyond? At a time when democratic structures appear to be under threat, it is crucial that democratic principles are protected and local democracy is strengthened. Political decisions, it is often noted, should be made within the circle of democratic parties, without cooperation with AfD members.

In a political environment often characterized by populist demands, Gellrich's candidacy could be important for both voters and political actors in the region. The AfD has earned a reputation for increasingly agitating against minorities and abusing parliamentary rights. In a climate in which the firewall against extreme positions at the local level is visibly crumbling, it is all the more important that a clear line is drawn between democratic values ​​and extremist views.

Gellrich's nomination could herald an exciting chapter in Moritzburg's political history as citizens wait to see how the election will develop next year. Stay tuned, because the political events in Moritzburg will certainly be a topic of conversation.

Sources: The Saxons, Microsoft, People's rabble-rouser