Murat Kalmis: Delmenhorst now has its new mayor!

Murat Kalmis: Delmenhorst now has its new mayor!

Something is happening in Delmenhorst: After the special meeting of the city council, Murat Kalmis was re-elected as honorary mayor. This is his second attempt after the original election in April was canceled due to a technicality. In his re-election, which took place in a secret ballot, Kalmis received the necessary qualified majority of more than 50 percent of the votes. He will therefore work alongside Mayor Petra Gerlach and another mayor, Hermann Thölstedt from the CDU. This triple leadership is special because Delmenhorst has created the possibility through a change in the statutes to install mayors with equal rights who work at the same level without a specific hierarchy

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The path to re-election

Murat Kalmis is no stranger to Delmenhorst politics. He has been active in the city council since 2001 and has made a name for himself over the years as parliamentary group leader of the FDP. The native of Delmenhorst is not only committed to political life, but also to being close to the citizens and pragmatism. The re-election is seen as a confirmation of his commitment and an expression of confidence in his abilities. During the special meeting, Mayor Gerlach apologized for the circumstances of the original election and expressed her confidence in Kalmis' suitability for the office.

According to the municipal supervisory authority, Kalmis' election was classified as illegal because the amended main statute that made the additional mayoral position possible was not yet formally in force. This posed a problem that put the entire election under scrutiny again. But Kalmis did not allow himself to be discouraged and aims to actively shape Delmenhorst instead of just managing it. His position as mayor is a full-time position, while he relinquishes the parliamentary group chairmanship and is therefore obliged to remain neutral.

Local elections in Germany

The events surrounding the mayoral election in Delmenhorst shed light on the municipal electoral systems in Germany, which are determined by a variety of laws and regulations. According to information on bpb.de, local elections are an important part of political participation and serve to ensure representative representation in the communities. These elections are anchored in the Basic Law and place particular emphasis on secret voting.

What is particularly noticeable is that voter turnout in local elections is often lower than in state or federal elections. This can increase the likelihood that smaller parties and local voting communities will be heard. Furthermore, the direct election of community leaders leads to a concentration of power, which benefits greater transparency in political responsibility. It remains to be seen how the new constellation of mayors in Delmenhorst will affect the city's political landscape.

Overall, the election of Murat Kalmis shows that even after a setback, a second attempt can be successful. With a clear focus on proximity to citizens and pragmatism, he will lead Delmenhorst's fortunes in the coming years.