Greens in the Rhein-Erft district: 69% vote for CDU district administrator Rock!

Greens in the Rhein-Erft district: 69% vote for CDU district administrator Rock!

An exciting political evening in Kerpen's Jahnhalle: The majority of the Greens in the Rhein-Erft district have expressed their approval for the re-election of District Administrator Frank Rock (CDU). Loud ksta.de 69 percent of the members present voted for Rock, with 52 in favor, 16 against and seven abstentions. On the one hand, this should strengthen the limited barrier against the political trend - on the other hand, some Green members expect a clear distance from the CDU.

But how did this decision come about? The original timing of the announcement was at a different house number, but was delayed so Rock could introduce himself to the members. It wasn't until the evening of June 25th, a Wednesday, that he spoke up and introduced himself.

The Greens rely on cooperation

The Greens' previous stance was not to field their own candidate. At a meeting on May 17th, the extent to which rock should really be supported was also discussed. Rundschau-online.de reports that some delegates are concerned that support for Rock could dilute the Green profile. Daniel Buncic expressed concerns, and Antje Grothus and Birgit Peltzer also warned of the consequences of such an election recommendation. While some pointed to the good record of the Jamaica coalition and the cooperation with Rock, many spoke out against the nomination of their own district council candidate in two rounds of voting.

At the general meeting, the Greens were able to fix the results for the 2025 district council election. Nicole Kolster was elected to first place on the list with 66 percent, and Elmar Gillet also achieved this after a first round of voting that had no clear winner. Gillet is described as a pragmatic politician who seeks dialogue with the CDU and SPD.

Elections in Germany: A fixed procedure

Local elections are always a big deal and are subject to strict rules, such as below bpb.de is to be read. They serve to elect the parliamentary representatives of the municipalities and districts, an important step for local democracy. Those eligible to vote, most of whom are only allowed to vote if they are 18 or older, bring their voices to the decision-makers, and that is simply part of keeping the local political landscape dynamic.

A key feature is the different electoral laws, which provide the framework but can be interpreted differently from country to country. Voters in local elections often have a greater tendency to support smaller parties or citizens' initiatives.