Pure excitement: Runoff election for Kiel mayor promises a close decision!

Pure excitement: Runoff election for Kiel mayor promises a close decision!

Things will be exciting in Kiel! The runoff election for the office of mayor is coming up next Sunday, and voters are faced with a close decision between Gerrit Derkowski and Samit Yilmaz. Derkowski, who is entering the race as a non-party, received 28.7% of the vote in the first round. Yilmaz from the Greens follows closely with 24.8% and will have to take the challenge of motivating his voters to vote seriously. In a tight race like this, every share of the vote could be crucial. “It could be tight,” said Yilmaz and sees his administrative experience as an advantage in promoting dialogue with citizens. Although the SPD has not made a recommendation for Yilmaz, it does not see this as a disadvantage, which makes the dynamic even more interesting.

In the political arena, Derkowski is supported by the CDU, FDP and SSW. He sees the election as a new experience and wants to bring about change in Kiel. The light rail system is a central issue in his election campaign. Derkowski has also sharply criticized this, especially because of the high costs, and advocates investing the money better in schools, daycare centers and apartments. In contrast, Yilmaz emphasizes that he sees the light rail as an important advance in mobility and emphasizes that the municipality only has to cover 10% of the costs. However, both candidates agree that a referendum on the light rail is very likely.

The background of the light rail

The Kiel local council had already decided to introduce the light rail in 2018 and a declaration of intent between the state and the municipality for financial support was signed in December 2024. The light rail's first line is scheduled to enter service in 2034, with the goal of creating a full network by 2040. Incumbent Ulf Kampf (SPD) will hand over the office to his successor in April 2024, which is why this election could be particularly groundbreaking for the city.

Election organization and participation

The organization of the election has already begun in Kiel. Voting documents can be requested by postal vote. It should be noted that the application must be made in writing, either online, by post, email or in person. Telephone inquiries are not possible. Ballot slips will be mailed starting October 6, 2025, and it is recommended that votes be cast in person at the instant voting office. To ensure that everything arrives on time, you should keep an eye on postal delivery times in the week before the election.

Voters have the option of casting their votes in another electoral district within Kiel, and the documents required for this are an ID card or passport. There is no postage charge for returning the voting letters and they must be submitted to the municipal election authority before election day. A possible runoff election is also being discussed on December 7, 2025 if the votes are not enough to determine a clear winner.

It remains to be seen how voters will decide and whether Yilmaz can mobilize his supporters to make up the deficit. And so the political landscape in Kiel may soon change. Who will ultimately take over the mayor's position? The coming days will show!

For more information about the elections in Kiel, visit kiel.de. And for anyone who wants to learn more about the digital world, check out the new YouTube Recap 2025 which shows what was most interesting last year!

For anyone who wants to stay up to date, it is important to find out early and prepare for the election. The decision is now in the hands of the voters!

For more details on the urban issues, see the article by Boyen's Media.