Potsdam chooses: Who will be the new mayor in the corruption swamp?

Potsdam chooses: Who will be the new mayor in the corruption swamp?

The clock ticks in Potsdam: On September 21, 2025, a new mayor will be elected, and preparations are in full swing. Dirk Harder would like to ensure a fresh wind, who as a non -party candidate for the left runs into the race. Last Saturday he was officially nominated at a general meeting of the district association. Harder, born in Potsdam in 1967, has an impressive career in youth and social work. His previous activity includes the management of the city youth ring and responsibility in the youth culture center Freiland. He is currently involved in the district association of Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) in Potsdam and is a member of the city's youth welfare committee.

But why is this choice so important? The previous mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) was elected on May 25 of this year. The reasons were criticism of his leadership style and a violent corruption affair. This situation brings for the candidate: not only enormous challenges inside, but also enormous pressure. Parties such as the SPD, CDU, Greens and the left fight to find a suitable successor. The candidacies must be submitted to the election manager exactly by July 17th, and five candidates and a candidate are already in the starting blocks.

candidates at a glance

The list of already known applicants for the office in Potsdam reads as follows:

• Dirk Harder (Die Linke, independent)
• Severin Fischer (SPD, Berlin State Secretary)
• Chaled-Uwe Said (AfD, chairman of the AfD city faction)
• Willo Göpel (CDU, group leader in the city parliament)
• Noosha Aubel (independent, former deputy, supported by the Greens)
• Jörn Karlipp (single applicant)

The election issues are wide: education, affordable living and a functioning administration are at the top of the agenda. The new mayor must also take care of the challenges that arose from the description of Schubert, including the financial bottlenecks - around 30 million euros in new debts are necessary for the years 2025 and 2026.

corruption and political challenges

The problems that the city plague are not just a historical nature. Dealing with corruption in municipal politics has repeatedly made headlines in recent years. An investigation shows that relationships between local politicians and the economy are often shaped by problematic influences. Dangerous concepts that became visible in the Regensburg corruption scandal, a bad light on the integrity of the political landscape. After all, local politicians for competitive campaigns often have to be dependent on donations, which entails additional challenges. "How can you secure integrity in local politics?" Ask the team around the documentation series "Dokthema" in relation to these complex issues of corruption prevention and the Enlightenment, which are still very important in the political discussion.

Any choice, Potsdam is facing a pioneering decision. The coming weeks until the deadline for the deployment of the candidates on July 17 will be decisive. A good knack in choosing the right candidate could herald a new era for the city.