Kassel's head of the citizens' office wants to become mayor of Seesen!

Kassel's head of the citizens' office wants to become mayor of Seesen!

A new mayoral election will take place in the Lower Saxony town of Seesen on September 13, 2026, and Anja Morell's announced commitment is already a topic of conversation. The head of the Kassel Citizens' Office has officially announced her candidacy for mayor. The 54-year-old Morell, who has headed the citizens' office in Kassel since 2020, is running as an independent and non-party candidate. This positions it in an exciting electoral environment, especially since the CDU has lost support in the last elections and cannot avoid a switch to the SPD.

Voter turnout in Seesen was 55.84 percent in the past, which means that citizens in the smaller town are definitely active. More than 19,000 residents are eligible to vote. A change to an SPD mayor could be the first major political change since Andrea Melone narrowly failed in the last election. The SPD had already achieved a strong result in the local council elections in 2016, and the latest elections show that the council factions need to rethink their political positions in order to win majorities.

Background to Anja Morell

Anja Morell is no stranger to the region. She moved to Seesen in 2015 to live nearby with her family. She grew up in the village of Eberschütz and spent her entire professional career in the city of Kassel. Morell has been serving the city for 35 years and has also gained valuable experience as deputy director of the Citizens' Office. In her role as office manager, she is responsible for around 300 employees and is responsible for a variety of services, ranging from social affairs to digital administration. HNA

In the now exciting political climate in Seesen, where the CDU is increasingly losing ground, her candidacy could bring a breath of fresh air. But the leaves have already been wiped clean: the Greens and other smaller parties have also maintained their positions in the council and thus offer potential coalition partners for an SPD-led government. The next few months will show whether Anja Morell can gain the necessary trust from voters.

A look at the elections in Germany

Local elections in Germany are an important part of the political landscape. They enable citizens to directly elect their leaders and thus have a decisive influence on local politics. According to the Basic Law, the election must be universal, free and secret, which places great responsibility on citizens. The upcoming elections in Seesen are part of a broader trend in which citizens want to represent their concerns more independently. What's particularly interesting is that voter turnout in local elections is often lower than in state or federal elections, which gives Morell's activism an added appeal as she may be able to mobilize more voters. bpb

So Seesen is in the middle of a political upheaval, and the coming months are crucial for everyone involved. The tension increases as Anja Morell prepares for the election campaign and shows what she has to offer the city.