SPD politician Tobias Schick becomes mayor of Cottbus. The 41-year-old clearly prevailed against AfD candidate Lars Schieske in the runoff election on Sunday. According to the preliminary final result, Schick received 68.6 percent of the votes, while Schieske received 31.4 percent. The election was considered significant beyond the second largest city in Brandenburg, because it was also a question of whether the AfD would appoint the first mayor of a city nationwide or not.
The SPD candidate was pleased. “Of course you wished for a lot, but you just have to cross the finish line,” said Schick of the German Press Agency. He wants to approach everyone in Cottbus: “We have to talk less about each other and talk to each other.” AfD applicant Schieske rated the result positively: “It’s a huge success.” In the end he fought against all other parties. Schieske congratulated Schick before all the votes were counted.
Concentrated support for SPD man
The CDU, Greens, Left and FDP had pledged their support to the SPD candidate for the run-off after the September 11 election. An alliance of parties, trade unions, the Evangelical Church District, the Brandenburg Technical University and the State Theater also campaigned for him.
In the postal vote, SPD candidate Schick was even more clearly ahead of AfD candidate Schieske with 79.7 percent than in the ballot box with 61.4 percent. Schick received 29,520 votes and Schieske 13,483. In the run-off election, the winner not only had to get an absolute majority, but also at least 15 percent of those entitled to vote, that is 11,837. Voter turnout, at 55.2 percent, was higher than the 53.3 percent of the first round on 9/11.
In September’s election, the SPD candidate won 31.8 percent of the votes, ahead of the AfD candidate, who received 26.4 percent. None of the seven candidates achieved an absolute majority. The still incumbent CDU Mayor Holger Kelch did not appear for health reasons. His successor will take office on November 30.
focus of right-wing extremism
According to the Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Cottbus is a focus of right-wing extremism. Schick wants to tackle the problem in his own words and clearly name it. He also intends to strengthen Cottbus as a science location, deploy more district police officers and build necessary new schools. Schick campaigns against hatred, violence and exclusion. His motto during the election campaign was: “Work together, live together, shape Cottbus.” Born in Ludwigsfeld, he was previously the managing director of the city sports association.
AfD candidate Schieske won the direct mandate in Cottbus in the 2019 state elections with 27.3 percent and was a member of the state parliament. He took part in events organized by the “Zukunft Heimat” association, which the Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies as right-wing extremist. The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the AfD Brandenburg 2020 as a suspected right-wing extremist.
Cottbus, with almost 100,000 inhabitants, is facing another structural change with the lignite phase-out. In the local and state elections in 2019, the AfD was the strongest force in Cottbus. In the 2021 federal election, the mandate in the constituency went to the SPD, with the AfD behind it. The federal and state governments are promoting the city because of the structural change. Cottbus will not only get a railway plant with around 1200 jobs, but will also get a university medicine.
