Philipp Saar wants to become the new mayor of Rastatt after being voted out in Haslach!

Philipp Saar wants to become the new mayor of Rastatt after being voted out in Haslach!

An exciting political race is brewing in Rastatt. Philipp Saar, the 47-year-old CDU politician, is aiming for the office of second mayor. But the road there is rocky. After his deselection as mayor of Haslach im Kinzigtal in March 2023, where he lost to Armin Hansmann with only 39.8 percent of the vote, the political career of the once celebrated representative of the people has faltered. Saar recently received 91.7 percent of the vote in his election in Haslach, which makes his current defeat all the more surprising. [bnn.de reports that](https://bnn.de/mittelbaden/rastatt/philipp-saar-will-buergermeister-in-rastatt- Werden-nach-abwahl-in-haslach) Saar now has to face the questions of voters in Rastatt and is looking for reasons for his poor performance.

Saar is the only candidate from a political party among the four candidates. His political career began in 2008 as a research assistant for CDU MP Peter Weiß before switching to business in 2010 and working as a lobbyist for waste companies. From 2017 to May 2023 he was mayor of Haslach, where he was responsible for a budget of 45 million euros and around 160 employees. His achievements include significant infrastructure projects, such as stadium renovations and new development areas. He is now concentrating on the topics of volunteerism, schools and security, which he considers crucial for Rastatt.

The role of social media

The deselection of Saar is not only an individual story, but also raises questions about the role of social media in the election campaign. Saar is extremely active on platforms such as Instagram and has built up a fan base of 2,732 followers there. In comparison, he is one of the most prominent local politicians in Ortenau. His appearance on social networks gave him a greater reach than many larger mayors. However, this was not enough to convince voters. ortenau-journal.de reports that despite his social media presence, the personal connection to voters in a small town is crucial.

Experts disagree about the real influence of social media on election results. Judith Möller, professor of empirical communication research, emphasizes that a voting decision depends on numerous factors. One-off social media campaigns do not provide the long-term information necessary to form opinions. Tagesschau.de points out that the presence in social media can also distort perception and lead to a one-sided opinion.

The look ahead

For Philipp Saar it now remains to be seen what the voters will decide on July 10th. If he is elected, he plans to move to Rastatt with his family and create space for his visions as a designer. Saar aims not only to manage, but also to actively influence developments in the city. By making offers to talk to all groups in the Rastatt local council, he is showing himself to be open to cooperation and wants to provide new impulses.

The political landscape in Rastatt is in transition and Saar would like to regain its footing. The coming weeks promise to be politically exciting - voters will decide whether Saar can celebrate his political comeback or whether the shadow of his deselection continues to haunt him.