Future of the twin cities: Frankfurt and Słubice in the tension area of the elections
Frankfurt (Oder) discusses political developments, border controls and future challenges on the German-Polish border.

Future of the twin cities: Frankfurt and Słubice in the tension area of the elections
In view of the ongoing tensions at Europe's internal borders, there are live reports from Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. Today, October 12, 2025, both cities will hoist EU flags on the Oder Bridge, while the permit for hoisting German flags will soon expire. But political difficulties are emerging: the Polish flags are still hanging, which is a delicate matter for Frankfurt's mayor Stefański. He emphasizes the importance of the many joint projects and the commuter traffic between the two cities, which together have around 90,000 inhabitants. But the atmosphere is not as carefree as it seems.
Current events take a look back to 1991, when there were violent riots by German neo-Nazis in Frankfurt. At that time, the then mayor's opinion of open borders was not particularly positive. Today the picture is different, but right-wing extremist tendencies are not long in coming. Gürol Özcan, operator of the Elyx bar, describes his experiences: The room, which is intended to serve as a “safe space” for everyone, has rules that exclude access for drunk or aggressive people as well as for right-wing extremists. Özcan himself experienced discrimination in Frankfurt, especially during border controls. He soon plans to leave the city and return to Berlin after being offered an engineering position. Despite these difficulties, he has positive relationships with many people in Frankfurt.
Border controls and their consequences
A focal point of the current debate is the border controls that were reintroduced in October 2023 and were even tightened in March 2025. The administrations in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice express concern that such measures could lead to a further escalation of the situation. The Polish government has been carrying out controls at the borders with Germany and Lithuania since July 7, 2025. These developments not only provoke tensions between the EU member states, but also within the population. A self-proclaimed “Movement to Defend the Border” in Słubice particularly controls people with dark skin and spreads false information about migrants.
The current border controls in place at the borders are hindering the free movement of goods and people and are causing significant damage to the regional and European economies, as the administrations note. Migration researchers also point out that there is no direct connection between these controls and the number of refugee applications, which underlines the discussion about an effective migration policy. In 2024, around 250,900 people applied for asylum in Germany, with the number falling by around a third compared to 2023. The German-Polish border recorded the majority of the gray numbers about unauthorized border crossings in 2024.
Solidarity in times of crisis
With a clear appeal to citizens, they were encouraged to defend themselves against hostility and prejudice. The administrations in Frankfurt and Słubice are keeping a critical eye on the situation, as well as the increase in hatred on social media. They call for maintaining a common stance in the region. Peace, security and cohesion are the declared goals in this once harmonious twin city. “We will not allow ourselves to be provoked by violence and division,” emphasize those responsible.
The upcoming runoff election for the mayor on Sunday is being widely discussed by various political camps. The SPD and the Left have chosen Strasser, while the CDU and the Greens are calling for a clear demarcation from the AfD. The BSW recommends abstention. A small ray of hope could be the strengthening of community spirit and solidarity among citizens in the coming months.
The situation in Frankfurt (Oder) with Słubice remains tense and the challenges are great. It remains to be seen how the interaction between politics, civil society and border controls will develop.
For further details on the situation on site and the upcoming elections, we recommend reading the reporting from Time, Frankfurt-Oder and Media service integration to pursue.