"countermovement" or "counteracting measures"
In the upcoming mayoral runoff on Sunday, September 27, Thomas Geisel (SPD) and Dr. Stephan Keller (CDU) are set to face off in a hotly contested race for Düsseldorf's top position. With around 118,000 postal voting documents and 470,000 information cards sent out, residents are encouraged to exercise their right to vote.
The local election results have shown a shift in the city council, with 90 seats now up for grabs. The CDU and Greens are heading to the mayoral runoff, with the CDU remaining the strongest force despite losses. The Greens emerged as the big winners, securing 24 percent (+11 percent) of the vote.
The contest between Geisel and Keller is shaping up to be a battle of opposing views on transport policy. Geisel, the incumbent mayor, sees the race as a "directional choice," focusing on the contrasting stances in this critical area.
Transport policy debates in Düsseldorf's mayoral runoffs typically revolve around urban mobility solutions such as expanding public transportation, cycling infrastructure, road traffic management, and sustainable mobility initiatives. Key issues often include investment in public transit to reduce car dependency and pollution, the expansion and safety of bicycle lanes and pedestrian zones, measures to ease traffic congestion and parking availability, the integration of environmentally friendly technologies (e.g., electric buses, shared mobility), and responses to citizen concerns about noise, air quality, and urban livability.
One such issue that has caught the attention of the candidates is the environmental lanes, with Keller advocating for their abolition and Geisel defending them as a success.
For those who are traveling, postal voting is an option. Applications can be made at the electoral office or via the specified contacts. However, the postal delivery times and the short deadlines should be considered when applying for postal voting. The voting envelope for postal voting must arrive at the electoral office by 4 p.m. on September 27.
Voting envelopes can also be deposited in the city's letter boxes at district administrative offices and citizen offices until Sunday morning at 9 a.m. Those who have already applied for postal voting in the main election do not need to take further action.
Individuals can register as election helpers at [email protected] or by phone at 0211-8993177. The electoral office asks for prompt contact if the requested documents do not arrive by Monday, September 21.
For precise, up-to-date details on their transport policy positions and key campaign issues, consult major German news outlets or Düsseldorf local media covering the runoff election.
The upcoming mayoral runoff has highlighted the contrasting policy-and-legislation stances between Thomas Geisel and Dr. Stephan Keller, particularly in the area of transport, a hot topic in Düsseldorf's politics. The environmental lanes, a critical issue in urban mobility solutions, have become a focal point of debate, with Keller advocating for their abolition and Geisel defending them. For those interested in keeping up with the latest developments, general-news outlets providing coverage on the runoff election offer insightful perspectives on the candidates' transport policy positions and key campaign issues.
