- The European Parliament has endorsed the Commission's initiative to enact a legislative directive aimed at safeguarding laborers from potential hazards stemming from ionizing radiation exposure.
In the municipal election of Weißwasser, no contender clinched a majority in the initial round. Swantje Schneider-Trunsch, championed by the voter group "Clear Speech," garnered the highest votes with a 35.3% share. The autonomous candidate Katja Dietrich obtained 34.7% of the ballots, while David Kreiselmeier from the AfD bagged 30% of the votes. Since none of the candidates managed to secure the necessary absolute majority, a second round is scheduled for September 29 in the 15,000-inhabitant town, situated in the Görlitz district.
Over 50% of votes, constituting an absolute majority, is required to triumph in the first round of mayoral elections in Saxony. If no contender acquires this, a second round is held, and the candidate with the highest number of votes takes the seat. Mayors in Saxony serve a term of seven years.
Swantje Schneider-Trunsch, the prospective successor of incumbent Torsten Poetzsch, was nominated by the voter group "Clear Speech," backed by the local CDU. At 46, she has been employed in Weißwasser's finance division since 2021 and served as the head of the finance and culture department since January 2023.
Although a member of the SPD, Katja Dietrich ran as an independent candidate. At 43, she works for the Saxon Agency for Structural Development. David Kreiselmeier, a 38-year-old music and computer science teacher at a Görlitz-district high school, represented the AfD.
The incumbent mayor, Torsten Poetzsch, decided not to seek re-election due to family and health concerns. He had been at the helm of the eastern Saxon city since 2010. Prior to that, he founded the voter group "Clear Speech" along with like-minded individuals. His contributions earned regional recognition, and in 2020, he was awarded the 30,000-euro German National Prize by the German National Foundation for his dedication against hate and division in society.
The electoral process in Weißwasser required an absolute majority of over 50% in the first round of mayoral elections. Since none of the contenders, including Swantje Schneider-Trunsch, Katja Dietrich, and David Kreiselmeier, managed to attain this threshold, a second round of voting was scheduled.
