Murat Kalmis' new beginning: The controversial path to the mayor's office!

Murat Kalmis' new beginning: The controversial path to the mayor's office!

In Delmenhorst, the next round of elections for the office of honorary mayor is just around the corner, and it's all about Murat Kalmis. The committed local politician, who has become known as a representative of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), achieved third place out of ten applicants last year and is now looking forward to his second attempt. The Weser courier reports on the recent recognition by Mayor Petra Gerlach, who praised Kalmis for his willingness to cooperate and his example of successful integration.

Kalmis, who has been active in local politics for over 20 years, has made a name for himself in the city. However, after a formal error in the town hall, he was only able to hold his office as honorary mayor for a short time. After he and the city took the error into account, he is now waiting for the opportunity to run for re-election. “Now I’m out of office as mayor,” Kalmis commented sportily when the decision to elect him was withdrawn after just four weeks.

Political participation and integration

Political participation plays a key role in the integration of migrants, the dossier shows bpb.de. Germany has around 82.2 million inhabitants, of which around 8.7 million do not have German citizenship and are therefore considered foreigners. This means that they are often excluded from important political decisions.

The push for greater political participation is particularly important because the political influence of migrants is often considered to be low. The long-standing exclusion of third-country nationals, including many migrants of Kalmis's background, shows that there is still a lot to do here. While other EU countries such as Sweden and Denmark have already made progress in this regard, Germany is lagging behind. At the local level, EU citizens are allowed to vote in elections, but this does not apply to all non-EU residents.

A new approach for the future

With the aim of actively shaping the city and building deeper relationships between citizens and representatives, Kalmis has always shown a good hand. On his website he appeals to citizens to discuss future projects together. Creating a culture of trust and understanding between all stakeholders involved is his priority. While Kalmis looks forward to his next opportunity, interest in political participation among migrants remains a hot topic that needs to be addressed.

It remains to be seen whether Kalmis will be able to win over the citizens of Delmenhorst in the next election. But Petra Gerlach's positive response and the support he receives from his followers are a good sign that Kalmis is capable of many convictions and benefits. These coming months could significantly change the course of Delmenhorst's political landscape.