Frankfurt (Oder) votes: Non-party people prevail against AfD!

Frankfurt (Oder) votes: Non-party people prevail against AfD!

In Frankfurt (Oder) a new chapter in local politics was opened on October 13, 2025. In the runoff election for the office of mayor, the independent Axel Strasser and the AfD candidate Wilko Möller competed against each other. Strasser continued with impressive results 69.8% of the votes against Möller, who only received 30.2%.

The election in Frankfurt (Oder) reflects a growing distrust of established parties. The CDU, SPD, Left, FDP and Greens no longer play any role in this election. Strasser, who has lived in this city for five years and does not hold a political position, previously worked at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was even supported by the SPD and the Left. His vision is clear: He wants to bring new companies to the city and thereby create jobs.

A new understanding of politics

The background to this election is as diverse as the results themselves. Strasser and Möller are not the only ones who caused a stir in the region. In the last elections in Brandenburg, independent candidates prevailed not only in Frankfurt (Oder), but also in Potsdam and Eisenhüttenstadt. The independent Noosha Aubel won in Potsdam with 72.9% of votes against the SPD candidate Severin Fischer.

In Eisenhüttenstadt, the electorate also elected an independent candidate, Marko Henkel, who received 57% of the vote. These developments show that overall loyalty to politicians in Brandenburg is changing significantly.
“We see a clear trend towards independent candidates, which is shaking up the party landscape,” analyzes a political expert.

Wilko Möller, who became known as a former activist for the Junge Union and the FDP, was unable to gain acceptance among voters despite his involvement in the AfD. The AfD once again failed to appoint a mayor, underscoring the growing aversion to extreme political positions. The CDU candidate Désirée Schrade, who came third in the first round of voting, was also critical of the results and spoke of a “crisis of trust” in the traditional parties.

Social issues in focus

The picture emerging for Frankfurt (Oder) is both worrying and exciting. The city is a budget security municipality and is struggling with financial difficulties. In recent years, citizens seem to be increasingly looking for alternatives and leaving the established parties behind. Strasser sees the need to find new ways to get people excited about politics and increase engagement.

The elections in Brandenburg are not only a reflection of the current political mood, but also an indicator of the future of the political parties in the region. If this development continues, voters' trust in traditional structures could decline even further.

The findings from this election show that distrust of the established parties is becoming ever stronger, and the political landscape could continue to change in the coming years. The coming months will be crucial to see how these trends develop and what answers new and old political protagonists find to reconnect with the electorate.