Anticipated high voter engagement in Brandenburg's election year

European Union - Anticipated high voter engagement in Brandenburg's election year

In Brandenburg, nearly 2.1 million people will cast their votes for both municipal and European level representatives this Sunday. These elections mark the start of the year's major electoral events. While they're not directly comparable to the upcoming state election, the results are considered a gauge of public sentiment. After a spate of attacks on politicians and poster defacements, security measures have been beefed up. The police are reportedly on high alert according to Wahlleiter Herbert Trimbach. The state-wide vote count for the European elections is scheduled for 11:00 pm at the earliest, but the timeline for municipal elections remains undecided.

Political Scientist Anticipates High Voter Turnout with Polarization

Potsdam-based political scientist Jan Philipp Thomeczek expects that voter turnout will be relatively high in these elections. "Polarization can prompt more people to vote," he told the DPA news agency. "Some fear that democracy is under threat, even though there's no actual reason for it. This sentiment is common among AfD voters." The concern about the state of democracy could lead to a high voter turnout, but driven by negative emotions rather than positive ones. "The liberal-democratic system should be taken for granted, no matter who's in power." The European elections are not a platform for "punishing" the government.

European Minister Urges Voter Participation

European Minister Katrin Lange (SPD) urges all citizens to engage in the European elections. She points out that the EU parliament's influence has increased significantly. According to the state's Political Education Center, up to two-thirds of European regulations impact regions and municipalities directly - from climate policy to migration policy. The European elections in Brandenburg feature 34 electoral lists.

AfD Tops in 2019 European Elections

In the 2019 European election, AfD led Brandenburg with 19.9 percent, followed by CDU with 18.0 percent and SPD with 17.2 percent. The Left and Greens achieved 12.3 percent each, while FDP gained 4.4 percent. These numbers represent the remaining 15.1 percent.

Thousands Seek Election for Municipal Positions

For the municipal elections in Brandenburg, 14 district councils, city councils of Potsdam, Brandenburg an der Havel, Cottbus, and Frankfurt (Oder), along with 408 municipal councils and city councils of district-affiliated municipalities and cities will be contested. Additionally, over 2,700 honorary mayors of these affiliated municipalities and cities, as well as 8 full-time mayors will be elected. This is followed by the recruitment of more than 3,400 district councilors and 80 district chairpersons.

More than 20,000 candidates are competing to fill these positions. In the Verbandsgemeinde Liebenwerda, up to six ballot papers may be necessary for the election of the Verbandsgemeinde council. In Werneuchen, voters decide on dismissing Mayor Frank Kulicke (UWW).

CDU Front-runners in the 2019 Municipal Elections

In the previous municipal elections held five years ago, CDU led Brandenburg with 18.3 percent statewide, while SPD held a close second with 17.7 percent. The AfD garnered 15.9 percent of votes, the Left secured 14.1 percent, the Greens achieved 11.1 percent, BVB/Free Voters managed to reach 6.3 percent, and the FDP claimed 4.9 percent.

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Read also:

1. Amidst Brandenburg's election year, the German Press Agency reports that over 2,700 honorary mayors will be elected in the local elections.
2. In the European Union-anticipated high voter engagement, the FDP is one of the 34 electoral lists competing in the European elections.
3. Katrin Lange, the SPD's European Minister, encourages citizens to engage in the European elections, stressing the EU's direct impact on municipalities.
4. Despite heightened security measures, local elections and European elections will take place simultaneously this Sunday, with the former's timeline yet to be decided.
5. For the statewide municipal elections, the SPD came second in the 2019 elections with 17.7% of the votes, while the CDU led with 18.3%.
6. Following the European elections, Herbert Trimbach, the Wahlleiter, will oversee the state election in Brandenburg as the official Electoral Officer.
7. The municipal elections in Brandenburg feature various municipal councils, including Cottbus and Frankfurt (Oder), and a total of 8 full-time mayors up for election.
8. In anticipation of the 2024 European elections, potential candidates have started to emerge, preparing to represent their parties in the elections.
9. During Brandenburg's election year, the AfD was the leading party in the 2019 European elections with 19.9% of the votes, followed by the CDU and SPD.

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