Samet Yilmaz: New Mayor of Kiel - A breath of fresh air!

Samet Yilmaz: New Mayor of Kiel - A breath of fresh air!

The tension in Kiel was palpable today when voters cast their votes for the new mayor. Samet Yilmaz from the Greens prevailed in the runoff against non-party Gerrit Derkowski and secured victory with 54.1 percent of the vote. Yilmaz is the successor to Ulf Kampf (SPD), who is no longer running after two terms in office and will take his place in state politics. Derkowski, supported by the CDU, FDP and SSW, received 45.9 percent of the vote. Despite his defeat, he was satisfied with the result of his first political candidacy.

Yilmaz received a clear mandate from the entire 190,779 Kiel residents eligible to vote. In the first round of voting, which took place on November 16th, 48.7 percent of voters cast their votes. However, voter turnout in the runoff election was 43.5 percent, which represents a decrease compared to the main election. In the first round, Yilmaz received 24.8 percent and Derkowski 28.7 percent of the votes, which made the decision for the runoff election necessary n-tv reported.

A clear focus on the future

Yilmaz expressed his delight at the clear support of voters and promised to make Kiel more modern and socially just. Education, security, modern administration and mobility are at the top of his agenda, with climate protection playing a central role. He would also like to actively involve the voters who did not vote for him in his planning. “I have a clear mandate for the future of this city,” emphasized Yilmaz, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with all democratic parties.

He sees a particular challenge in the planned light rail system, in which the involvement of all citizens plays a crucial role. This is a sign of its inclusive approach, which aims to bring the city together as a community.

Political reactions and outlook

Acting Mayor Ulf Kampf praised the preparations for the handover to Yilmaz, but pointed out existing challenges, such as the financial crisis and the implementation of outstanding projects. Kampf is not only leaving office, but is also planning a move into state politics, where he would like to contribute his experience. This step shows that there is movement in Kiel politics and a breath of fresh air is blowing.

Overall, the election shows that the political landscape in Kiel is changing. Yilmaz has the potential to lead the city and its citizens into a new era. The handover of office is planned for April 2026, and the city can look forward to seeing how the new mayor's plans and ideas unfold.

Kiel voters can only hope that the next few months will be filled with a lot of commitment and progressive ideas. Voter turnout could be an important indicator of citizens' interest in future urban development. daily news has also emphasized that despite the challenges, people's political participation is crucial to effect change.

Elections always bring a breath of fresh air - and after this election in Kiel it remains to be seen in which direction the new mayor will steer his city. A look at political statistics shows that citizen engagement and voter participation are crucial to the democratic process Statistics portal clarified.