Gelsenkirchen in transition: SPD demands mayoralty against AfD!

Gelsenkirchen in transition: SPD demands mayoralty against AfD!

In Gelsenkirchen autumn shows its impressive side. As the leaves on the trees turn brightly and the city is given a touch of golden splendor, a lot can also be observed in the political landscape. Gelsenkirchen is in the shadow of the local elections in 2025, which will urgently decide what happens next for the city.

The SPD, once an undisputed power in Gelsenkirchen, faces a serious challenge this year. Andrea Henze, the candidate for mayor, has accepted the race against Norbert Emmerich from the AfD. Both parties bring different perspectives to the table as the dichotomous discussion of security and social justice lingers in the air. Emmerich, 72 years old and focused on the issue of security, plans to use “village sheriffs”, which the Gelsenkirchen police describe as legally tenable and not expedient.

Political mood

The AfD has gained strong support in Gelsenkirchen in recent years and could make gains in the upcoming local elections on September 14, 2025. Political scientist Stefan Marschall emphasizes that the AfD's strengthening is a gradual process that was already visible in previous elections. The city is suffering from a structural crisis, which is accompanied by high unemployment and poverty migration from Eastern Europe. In the federal election, the AfD received the most second votes in Gelsenkirchen, which further increases its chances of success in the local elections.

The SPD was plagued by the mining times that lay behind the city. Voters blame the party for the negative developments, and so it is not surprising that Henze is increasingly focusing on education, work and the economy in the election campaign. The hope of regaining voters' trust is in jeopardy as workers' votes increasingly shift to the CDU and AfD.

A cityscape in transition

Gelsenkirchen shows a multi-faceted cityscape in many places. On the one hand, there are challenges, such as recent reported incidents, including a fatal fall of a cyclist on an e-scooter. On the other hand, there are cultural highlights, such as Robbie Williams' entertaining concert, which put the city in a cheerful state of emergency for one evening. Such events give the city a positive glow and remind us that amid difficulties there is also room for joy and solidarity.

Despite all the challenges, Gelsenkirchen looks forward to a hopeful future. The discussions surrounding the European Football Championship and the organization of traffic after the games are an expression of the fact that the city is actively working on solutions. It is crucial that the political landscape in Gelsenkirchen does not fall behind.

Given the upcoming elections, political turbulence and social changes, it remains to be seen how Gelsenkirchen will develop further. Fall is looking strong, and perhaps Election Day will bring a new vein of gold for the city. More about current events can be found in the reports from Lokalkompass.de and sueddeutsche.de as well as zdf.de to read.