Ludwigshafen elects new councilors: Pletscher and Guthier take over!

Ludwigshafen elects new councilors: Pletscher and Guthier take over!

On June 30, 2025, the Ludwigshafen city council elected two new representatives. In an exciting meeting, the candidates Lars Pletscher (CDU) and David Guthier (SPD) received the trust of the council members. From January 1, 2026, both will assume responsibility for important departments. Pletscher will head the department for culture, schools, youth and family, while Guthier will take over the department for social affairs and integration. Pletscher received 45 of 58 votes, while Guthier received 36 votes, out of 58 votes cast overall.

This election marks a significant change in the city government, as Lars Pletscher succeeds Prof. Dr. Cornelia Reifenberg (CDU), who will retire on December 31, 2025 after many years of service, including her time as mayor. David Guthier will also succeed Beate Steeg (SPD), who is also leaving at the end of the year.

The new representatives in detail

Lars Pletscher, 45 years old, brings extensive experience in administrative work. The qualified administrative economist was most recently a managing official in Bad Dürkheim and previously held similar positions in the Lambsheim-Heßheim municipality. He has been a member of the CDU since 2003 and has made a name for himself as group leader in the association's municipal council. He completed his training at the Ludwigshafen city administration, which should benefit his future work.

David Guthier, 35 years old, has been a member of the state parliament for the Ludwigshafen I constituency since January 2024. Among other things, he works part-time at Rhein Neckar Verkehr GmbH. The political scientist has gained experience as chairman of the SPD city association in Ludwigshafen and the SPD city council group. He is known for his commitment and incisive opinions on social issues.

The role of the aldermen

The representatives in Ludwigshafen are electoral officials who responsibly manage the business of their departments. This includes, among other things, the areas of public administration, which plays a central role in Germany. According to [bpb], councilors are responsible for their offices and have the right to speak in the city council. In Ludwigshafen, in addition to the mayor, there are four full-time representatives, each of whom manages their own department. Their term is eight years, giving elected officials a long-term perspective.

With this new appointment, the city of Ludwigshafen is relying on fresh impetus in administration and the continuation of municipal projects. Given the existing challenges in the areas of culture, social affairs and integration, trust in these two new incumbents is highly relevant. The goal remains to further increase the quality of life in the city and promote positive developments.

The next few months will show how Pletscher and Guthier implement their plans and whether they are able to preserve the legacy of their predecessors while setting new standards. The citizens of Ludwigshafen can look forward to exciting developments in their city.

For further information about this election and the new representatives, please visit the official websites: [MRN-News] and [Ludwigshafen.de].