Election for the Neustadt executive chair: Who will lead the city?

Election for the Neustadt executive chair: Who will lead the city?

On Sunday, June 15, 2025, a new mayor will be elected in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Voters, around 42,000 in total, are called upon to cast their votes. In addition to the incumbent mayor Marc Weigel from the Free Voters Group (FWG), who has been in office since January 1, 2018, the non-party Steffi Karbach, an independent consultant for digital strategies, is running for election. Karbach was born in Ludwigshafen in 1984 and grew up in Neustadt-Hambach.

The election has caused quite a stir in the city as both candidates try in their own way to position themselves among citizens. While Weigel is highly visible with around 150 election posters in the city, Karbach has decided not to use posters for financial reasons. Their goal is to make Neustadt sustainable, fair and democratic. An important concern for Karbach is promoting the open marketplace of ideas to strengthen democracy in the city.

The candidates' topics

Marc Weigel has clear ideas for his second term in office. His main focus is on maintaining and further developing the high quality of life in Neustadt. His goals include preparing for the 2027 State Garden Show and converting the fire and disaster protection structures. He is also very concerned about reducing the renovation backlog in public infrastructure and buildings. Weigel is also confronted with challenges such as the difficult financial situation of municipalities and climate change.

In contrast, Steffi Karbach emphasizes the importance of socially and climate-friendly urban development. She cites the shortage of affordable living space and the consequences of the climate crisis - such as hot summers and heavy rain - as key challenges for Neustadt. Karbach is convinced that her candidacy has already made an important contribution to democracy, regardless of the outcome of the election.

Elections in Germany and the special features

The local elections in Germany, which also include the elections in Neustadt, are stipulated by the Basic Law in Article 28, Paragraph 1. The parliamentary representatives of the municipalities are elected, as well as the direct election of the mayors. The advantage of these elections is that citizens can have a direct influence on the shape of their communities. As a rule, the term of office for mayors is between five and eight years, depending on the federal state.

Municipal elections are often characterized by local issues, which is also reflected in the candidates' election programs. Voter turnout is generally lower than in state or federal elections, which may also be due to the dominance of smaller parties and citizens' initiatives. This means that the upcoming elections for Neustadt are not only a personal matter for the candidates, but also a crucial question about the future direction of the city.

The outcome of the election is expected on election evening. If an absolute majority is not achieved in the first round, a runoff election will follow on June 29th. Citizens are curious to see which of the two candidates has the best ideas to address the city's challenges and make the citizens of Neustadt future-proof.

Further details are available on the website Rhine Palatinate, SWR and the bpb to find.