Local Governments - The AfD is in a clear lead in Cottbus, while the SPD experiences significant growth.
In the Cottbus municipal elections, the AfD secured an even stronger lead. With 29.2% of the votes in the city - Brandenburg's second largest - they have gained almost 7 percentage points more than in the 2019 election. The Social Democrats (SPD) came in second with a 4% increase, now sitting at 19.6%. The city has been under SPD Mayor Tobias Schick's leadership since 2022.
The CDU held steady at 16%, losing about 1 percentage point. The Left Party fell significantly lower than 7.1%, losing over 6 points. The Greens rounded at 4.9%, and the Free Voters had 4.3%. These results were closely watched as the state election approached, three and a half months away. The Brandenburg Constitutional Protection Agency flags the AfD state association as a potential right-wing extremist organization—a designation given since 2020.
Municipal election results in Cottbus 2024
Read also:
The SPD's impressive growth in Cottbus during local elections has caused noticeable ripples in neighboring municipalities, such as Potsdam. In Potsdam's constituency, the SPD is anticipating a positive shift in votes.
The forthcoming local elections in Brandenburg's municipalities, including Potsdam, will closely monitor the performance of political parties, including the AfD, SPD, and CDU. The election results in Cottbus have set high expectations for these parties.
The AfD's increasing influence in Brandenburg's municipalities has caused significant concern among other political parties, chiefly the SPD, who have been working diligently to counteract their momentum.
Cottbus's strong AfD presence has sparked a heated debate among voters in the area, pushing other parties like SPD to engage in more active political discourse and mobilize more supporters for the upcoming local elections.
The SPD, aware of the impact of the Cottbus election results on their chances in Brandenburg's municipalities, has intensified its campaign efforts in Potsdam and other constituencies. They are focusing on key issues that resonate with voters, such as social justice and community development.
With the local elections in Cottbus serving as a bellwether for the mood of voters in Brandenburg's municipalities, the SPD is hoping to emulate Cottbus's success in Potsdam and translate it into a stronger presence at the state level.
