Greens face defeat in district polls; CDU secures victory in Bergedorf.

Government Affairs or Policymaking - Greens face defeat in district polls; CDU secures victory in Bergedorf.

Harsher blows faced by the Greens in the Hamburg European election have followed through to the district election as well. After counting over 95% of the 1,921 polling stations, the Greens endured considerable losses - sometimes from double-digits. In contrast, the CDU and AfD witnessed substantial improvements.

In Bergedorf, the CDU reclaimed its top spot with 28.6% of the votes, marking the first entirely counted district, while in Wandsbek, the CDU and SPD battled neck-and-neck. The AfD accumulated double-digit results in four other locations.

The SPD emerged victorious in Harburg with 28.4% of the votes over the CDU (23.1) and Greens (15.8). Although they held a lead in every other region, they experienced a decrease in public approval for the Left and FDP.

Five years ago, the Greens had taken the top spot in the district election with a historical 31.3% and most votes in four areas. Yet, on Monday, they held their first-place position in Altona, Eimsbüttel, and Hamburg-North. Their future as the most potent party in Hamburg lay uncertain. The SPD became the city's second-strongest party in 2019, with 24% across all districts. The CDU stood at 18.2%, the Left at 10.8%, and the FDP at 6.6%.

"We've managed to regain our position as the leading party in Altona, Eimsbüttel, and Hamburg-North. There's at least something to celebrate - especially during these challenging times," asserted Green state representatives Maryam Blumenthal and Leon Alam regarding the developing outcome. Across the state, they were likely to attain more than 20%. "This is a satisfactory result, especially considering the prevailing national sentiment."

Both the Greens and electorate echoed the same sentiment - their goal was to continue shaping district politics in Hamburg. "We'll take on this task, though we've lost votes in every district. We take this seriously."

Meanwhile, CDU, previously with underperforming results in Hamburg, was on the rise again. "The CDU Hamburg is back in action. We're prepared to function as a dependable and stable partner across the districts," proclaimed state leader Dennis Thering. He credited the CDU's commitment to more security, viable mobility, and a robust economy for its success.

"The latest results signal a major shakeup in Hamburg's political landscape. The upcoming Bürgerschaftswahl in 2023 will be a tightly contested, three-way race. We're now unpacking in each of the districts, where we could potentially collaborate with democratic partners to move forward with our shared goals," Thering shared.

Similarly, FDP state leader Sonja Jacobsen expressed her satisfaction with the Elbe Liberals' performance, despite some minor setbacks. "The performance in the Bürgerschaftswahl early in March next year is a motivating factor. The populace did not retaliate against the SPD or FDP, but rather expressed discontent against Green dominance in the Senate and districts."

Additionally, during the simultaneous European election, the Greens' points plummeted by 9.9%, leaving them with a 21.2% share. While remaining narrowly ahead of the SPD, which lost 1.1% to a 18.7% tally, the CDU claimed a 0.7% boost and ended up with 18.4%. The AfD and FDP gained, increasing their votes by 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively. The Left dipped by 1.9% and landed at 5.1%.

Hamburg will now have two representatives in the European Parliament. FDP politician from Hamburg, Svenja Hahn, secured another spot on the federal list in second place. The Volt Hamburg candidate, Nela Riehl, also earned a seat in Brussels and Strasbourg, thanks to a top-two spot on the list. All other European nominees from Hamburg's parties failed to advance.

"As a teacher at a Hamburg high school, my students motivated me to take responsibility. They spurred me to act a year ago. Now, we need to defend Europe from fascism," Riehl remarked.

Read also:

1. Despite facing setbacks in the Hamburg European election, the Greens continue to hold their first-place position in districts like Wandsbek, Eimsbüttel, and Altona, demonstrating resilience in their pursuit of shaping district politics.
2. The CDU in Wandsbek is engaged in a closely fought battle with the SPD, reflecting a tight race in the district election.
3. Across various municipalities in Hamburg, including Bergedorf, EU citizens are closely following the district election results, looking forward to the impact on their representative organizations.
4. The SPD, despite leading in every other region, experienced a decline in voter approval for the Left and FDP in the district election, a noticeable shift in public sentiment.
5. Apart from their strong performance in the district election, the CDU has also experienced a rise in popularity in the European elections, giving hope for a successful 2023 Bürgerschaftswahl campaign.
6. In Eimsbüttel, the Greens managed to secure their top position, marking a significant achievement in their efforts to maintain their position as a prominent political party in Hamburg.
7. In Harburg, the CDU and SPD are closely matching each other's voter counts, indicating a closely contested battle in this district as well.
8. Berlin-based FDP politician Svenja Hahn secured a second spot on the federal list, ensuring that Hamburg will be represented in the European Parliament alongside the Volt Hamburg candidate Nela Riehl.
9. Local grassroots activists, like Nela Riehl, who emerged from the district election with a top-two spot, are committed to defending European values and countering the rise of far-right organizations like the AfD.

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