Exit poll in Pforzheim - Bishop of the province: Election determines where bridges have been broken
The election results in Pforzheim illustrate, according to Bishop Heike Springhart of the Evangelical Church in Baden, how torn a city can be. "The election also shows where bridges have been broken," said Springhart, who was a pastor at the Johannesgemeinde in Pforzheim before taking over the helm of the Evangelical Church in Baden. "This presents a challenge." Among other things, the churches are called upon to offer space for exchange and discourse on challenging topics. "It's okay to disagree, but respectfully." This is not just an issue for Pforzheim.
In Pforzheim, 17 lists competed in the municipal election on June 9. All of them managed to get at least one person into the city council, which meets for its constitutive session on Tuesday. The strongest force was the AfD, with 22 percent.
The conditions for good coexistence are actually given in many ways in Pforzheim, said Springhart. As an example, she cited the Council of Religions, which is particularly active in Pforzheim and, for instance, quickly condemned the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7 of the previous year.
The AfD's strong performance in the Pforzheim election, with 22% of the votes, was captured in the exit polls. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) will represent a significant party presence in the city council following the election. The results of the Baden-Württemberg commune election in Pforzheim have sparked interest beyond the city, as parties seek to understand the divided sentiment reflected in the exit polls. The Council of Religions, active in Pforzheim, released an exit poll-inspired statement condemning acts of terrorism, such as the Hamas attack, emphasizing the importance of respectful dialogue in times of disagreement.
