Schwerin elects new mayor: date and first candidates have been set!

Schwerin elects new mayor: date and first candidates have been set!

The mayoral election in Schwerin is just around the corner! On April 12, 2026, a new city leader will be elected. The main committee of the city council has now voted unanimously for this date, reports Northern Courier. The last mayor, Rico Badenschier (SPD), has announced that he will resign at the end of the year, which increases the time pressure since, according to state and local election law, the election must take place within five months, no later than April 10, 2026.

Another point that makes this election day special: A referendum on the playground on Kieler Straße will also take place on April 12th. This is done to save costs after the local supervisory authority recommended that the referendum be held on the same day as the mayoral election. This was originally scheduled for January 25th, but now the city council will discuss this important decision again on November 10th, 2023, which will clarify whether the playground in Lankow should be retained or built on by an investor.

A look at the candidates

The first official candidates are already known. Heiko Steinmüller is running as an independent candidate, while Sebastian Ehlers from the CDU is still waiting for his official nomination. The AfD also has great ambitions and has announced that it will present its candidate on November 15th. The SPD, on the other hand, has set up a search committee to clarify its own candidacy.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the mayoral election in the neighboring city of Wismar is planned at the same time. A good day for voters in the region, who have the opportunity to cast their votes twice!

Political decisions and challenges

The election is likely to prove particularly exciting, not only because of the different candidates from different political camps, but also because of the numerous challenges facing the future city government. Contractual obligations, municipal finances and the needs of citizens play a central role here.

It is eagerly awaited whether the city council will approve the election date and the proposals on November 10th. In any case, the signs point to an election campaign - with all the issues that concern people in Schwerin. A clear focus will be on the future development of the city, and not just with regard to the playground in Lankow.

Let's take a look at the coming months: the people of Schwerin can get in the mood for a lively discussion. It remains to be seen who will win the race for mayor – the electoral system has set the stage for exciting disputes.

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