Greens Suffer Defeat at Hands of SPD and Die Linke, AfD Gains Support from Previous Abstainers
Dortmund Election Results: SPD Remains Strongest Party, AfD Gains Most Votes
In the recent local election held in Dortmund, Germany, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) retained its position as the strongest party, securing 26 of the 41 direct mandates. The SPD's performance was particularly impressive among middle-aged demographics, making them the preferred choice for voters aged 35 to 59.
However, the SPD suffered a significant loss compared to the last local election, losing approximately one-sixth of its votes. Despite this, the party remains the dominant force in Dortmund, with a strong presence in many local districts and a notable lead among older age groups, particularly among 70-year-olds who gave 39% of their votes to the SPD.
The AfD, on the other hand, gained the most votes among all parties in this election, with a total of 36,900 votes. Interestingly, approximately 25,100 votes for the AfD came from non-voters, indicating a shift in the political landscape. The AfD did not win any direct mandates but achieved over 20% in several districts, with its peak in Scharnhorst, where it reached 26.6%.
The CDU won eight direct mandates and is particularly strong in the southern districts of Hombruch, Hordel, and Aplerbeck. The party lost only 0.4% compared to other Ruhr area cities, suggesting a steady performance.
The Greens suffered the most significant losses, losing 8.3% compared to 2020. The party lost votes to all parties, with 4,000 votes going to the SPD, 3,300 to the CDU, 2,800 to the Left Party, and 3,800 votes to other parties.
The Left party had the lowest share in Eving and Scharnhorst, with 5.2% each. However, the party found particular appeal among young people, with 33% of 16 to 21-year-olds voting for them. The Left party also won its first direct mandate, with Daniel Tsvelenev receiving the most votes in the Nordstadt district. However, the party performs poorly among the over-70 age group, with only 4% of the votes.
In the mayoral race, independent candidate Martin Cremer received an absolute majority in two southern Dortmund districts. Katrin Lögering received an absolute majority as mayoral candidate in four inner-city districts. Thomas Westphal, the SPD's mayoral candidate, was ahead in all 35 districts. Notably, Westphal benefited from vote splitting, with more Dortmund residents voting for him as a person than for his party.
The SPD remains the strongest party in the Dortmund city council with 24.89% of the votes, indicating a resilient presence despite the losses. The full composition of the city council and the formation of coalitions will be determined in the coming weeks.
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