Pure excitement: runoff election in Oranienburg! Who will be the new mayor?

Pure excitement: runoff election in Oranienburg! Who will be the new mayor?

The decision on the new mayor will be made in Oranienburg on October 18, 2025. In the runoff election are Anja Waschkau from the AfD and Jennifer Collin-Feeder from the SPD opposite. Waschkau managed to secure 28.1 percent of the vote in the first round, while Collin-Feeder got 19.1 percent. A direct victory was not possible because an absolute majority was not achieved.

The election situation in Oranienburg raises interesting questions. Waschkau could become the first AfD candidate to take a full-time position in the mayor's office in Brandenburg. The 39-year-old joined the AfD just a year ago and sits on the social committee as an informed citizen. Her political ambitions are clear: she wants to bring order to the finances and is planning investments in the city. “There’s a lot to do,” said Waschkau.

The challenger and her agenda

On the other side is Collin-Feeder, who ran for office in 2017 but was not elected. She is currently the head of the social affairs department in Velten. Her focus is on securing social projects and building the new fire station in Friedrichstal as well as accelerating the construction of a new school. She also wants to make Bernauer Strasse more attractive. “The projects are necessary to increase the quality of life in Oranienburg,” she emphasizes.

The social background makes the choice particularly interesting. This is how it shows taz report that there are concerns about an AfD mayor. The Sachsenhausen Memorial expresses concern about the ethnic-nationalist currents within the party. Around 225 people protested before the election for democracy and diversity, a clear signal against possible AfD rule.

Voter numbers and turnout

Voter turnout in the first round was 57.6 percent, from around 40,000 citizens in Oranienburg who were eligible to vote. Other candidates such as Stefanie Rose from the Left and Heiko Zillmann, an independent candidate, also performed well with 16.3 and 15.6 percent of the vote. The incumbent mayor Alexander Laesicke, who ran as an independent candidate, finished the election in fifth place with just 13.2 percent.

The political situation in Brandenburg appears to be developing turbulently. In the neighboring town of Velten, the non-party Manuela Nebel was very well received, which shows the flow of voters in the region. The unpopularity of the major parties, including the SPD, could turn in favor of independent candidates, which overall speaks for a breath of fresh air in local politics.

The voters in Oranienburg are faced with an exciting decision. Next Sunday it's time to vote wisely and set the course for the city's future. Who will win the race? Wash chew or Collin feeder – it remains to be seen.