Rheinsberg mayoral election: Peitsch vs. Schwochow – who will prevail?

Rheinsberg mayoral election: Peitsch vs. Schwochow – who will prevail?

From now on the motto in Rheinsberg is: “All votes count!” Because the next mayoral election is scheduled for September 28, 2025. In the small town in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, located in the picturesque Ruppin Lake District, the 8,100 residents can cast their votes and decide on the leadership of their community. The city returning officer has now officially announced the date and preparations are in full swing.

Let's take a look at the candidates: The first applicant to enter the ring is 62-year-old Silke Peitsch from the CDU. She has lived with her husband in the village of Zechlin for 15 years and would like to position herself as mayor for all Rheinsbergers. What is striking is that their election flyer is not in the typical CDU colors, which is part of their strategy to appeal to a broader electorate. Peitsch believes that the uncertainties and fears that currently prevail in the city can be directly traced back to the policies of the current incumbent Frank-Rudi Schwochow (BVB/Free Voters).

A second attempt for the incumbent

Schwochow, who was unanimously nominated for re-election by BVB/Free Voters, brings with him a tense political past. In recent months he has faced serious allegations, including infidelity and slander. He is accused of having arbitrarily terminated the managing director of the Rheinsberg housing company Rewoge without introducing the necessary resolution. According to information from the RBB, this results in costs of over 10,000 euros for legal and legal fees.

The deadline for submitting nominations is July 24, 2025, 12 p.m. This means that other candidacies could potentially come into the race. There is likely to be great interest in this election, not least because mayors and district administrators in Brandenburg have been directly elected by the citizens since 1993. Such an election brings a chance for a breath of fresh air into local politics, although difficulties often arise with voter turnout; less than half of citizens took part in the last elections.

A look at the political landscape

The mayoral election in Rheinsberg is taking place in a context in which non-party applicants, political associations and individual applicants can submit their proposals. The election programs must be convincing in order to mobilize voters, especially in times of ignorance and disinterest in the political process. Silke Peitsch has already started her own initiatives, such as forest walks with daycare children, to express her commitment and intensify contact with citizens.

Peitsch plans to leave her current position as human resources manager to fully concentrate on the challenges of the mayor's office. A future-oriented approach is important to her and she wants to promote business, tourism and gastronomy in order to make Rheinsberg equally attractive for locals and tourists. At the same time, she is training to become a lifeguard in order to actively address the regional challenge of a shortage of lifeguards.

The coming election promises to be exciting. In an environment characterized by uncertainty, it is important to actively involve citizens and make political offers understandable. The coming weeks until the deadline for election proposals will show who will still be in the competition for the voters' favor. A possible runoff election is scheduled for October 12, 2025; citizens can stay tuned.