Vonarb ousted in Gera; Dannenberg succeeds as new city leader.

Local Governments - Vonarb ousted in Gera; Dannenberg succeeds as new city leader.

During the Thuringian district and city council elections in 2018, Gera was the sole municipality where an AfD candidate made it to the second round of voting. However, in the end, both the AfD and a far-right-backed candidate didn't make it past the first round. These far-right supporters had previously rallied for the far-right candidate Dannenberg, even holding protests near Vonarb's home. Dannenberg, however, distanced himself from these actions.

Gera, with its 94,000 residents, is known for its anti-Corona measure protests and discontent with the federal government's politics. The city witnessed demonstrations regarding a proposed refugee home, as well. In May, Gera's unemployment rate stood at a whopping 9.6%, making it the highest in Thuringian districts and cities.

People have long criticized the order office under Dannenberg, accusing it of being too lenient towards right-wing protesters. Dannenberg, in defense, argued, "A bureaucracy should remain unbiased, regardless of whether it's a left-, right-, or center-oriented demonstration." [Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)]

Read also:

1. In the Thuringian municipal elections of 2022, the run-off election in Erfurt saw the CDU regain control, marking a change of power after several years of left-wing rule.
2. On Sunday, voting took place in numerous municipalities across Thuringia, with some areas requiring a run-off election due to a close race between candidates from different parties.
3. Despite Gera's history of supporting far-right candidates, such as the AfD, the most recent elections showed a shift towards more moderate parties, with the CDU and other centrist groups gaining ground.
4. In contrast to Gera's past elections, this year's municipal voting saw a lower turnout, with less enthusiasm among the electorate for radical political ideologies.
5. The AfD, once a dominant force in Gera's politics, struggled to maintain its support in the most recent elections, leading to speculation about the party's future in Thuringian municipalities.
6. The local governments of Thuringia are now tasked with implementing the voters' decisions, ensuring a smooth transition of power and addressing the challenges faced by their respective municipalities, such as high unemployment rates and public dissatisfaction with established institutions.

• Tough return to normality in snow and ice
• Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
• German national soccer team on their way to participate in the European Championship qualifying matches.
• The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.