Sternberg's election victory with a shadow: Unfair election campaign in focus!

Sternberg's election victory with a shadow: Unfair election campaign in focus!

On May 11, 2025, Stefan Sternberg (SPD) again won the office of district administrator in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district with 58 percent of the votes. But the success remains accompanied by sharp criticism, which is primarily directed against the processes of his election campaign. According to Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), the election campaign was classified as unfair, with political opponents particularly criticizing Sternberg's use of testimonials. These supporting personalities, including the mayor of Boizenburg, Rico Reichelt (left) and the mayor of Balo, Kriemhild Kant, gave the election campaign a special character.

In the run-up to the election, Sternberg deployed an aggressive advertising strategy that targeted large posters and a strong social media presence. He was also supported by prominent people such as Jörg Klingohr, the managing director of the Golchener Hof Hotel, and retired Brigadier General Gerd Kropf, both of whom had clear economic ties to the district. These links have raised concerns among political opponents because of their potential to influence the election.

Criticism and economic connections

The allegations are primarily based on the fact that Sternberg had greater leeway in the election campaign thanks to the support of Klingohr and Kropf. From 2020 to 2024, Klingohr received around 60,000 euros for services from the district budget, and the district also transferred 75,600 euros for the use of the Golchener Hof, where district council meetings were held during the pandemic. Kropf's company, FMB Leadership and Management Consulting, received around 110,000 euros between 2022 and 2024 for consulting services in disaster protection.

Sternberg himself rejected the allegations as absurd and emphasized that his connections to the supporters were well known. He vigorously rejected the accusation of a competitive disadvantage and made it clear that there were no economic connections between his office and the personalities mentioned in the 2025 election year. Nevertheless, the antagonism remains, as the CDU and Greens expressed critical voices. The CDU district chairman Wolfgang Waldmüller found quiet words of criticism, while the Green candidate Philipp Lübbert referred to a “gray area” that could arise from the lack of transparency in economic relations.

The role of transparency

Transparency International (TI) has also pointed out the problem. While the company is not fundamentally against election advertising by entrepreneurs, it calls for clear disclosure of the connections between Sternberg and his supporters. This could help ensure equal opportunities and increase confidence in electability.

The SPD itself avoids the theory of inequality and argues that the budget for the election campaign was no more expensive than seven years ago, although it remained in the upper five-figure range. The key phase of an election campaign, the multitude of phases, from the preparation period to the final phase, plays a central role here. Media presence can also determine whether the electorate can be mobilized.

Stefan Sternberg will remain in office for the next seven years, advancing his goals with a political agenda that is shaped by the divided opinions of citizens and political opponents. Even if the result represents a clear mandate at first glance, the question remains as to how the conditions mentioned will affect political work and citizens' trust in the administration.

The district administrator has not yet responded to repeated inquiries from the press and is therefore still under observation while the political waves gradually calm down after the election.