Munich’s incumbent Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) faces a runoff election after suffering significant losses in Sunday’s municipal election. Preliminary results show Reiter received 35.6 percent of the vote, trailing Green Party candidate Dominik Krause, who secured 29.5 percent.
A Controversial Campaign
Reiter’s decline in support comes amid recent criticism regarding payments for a volunteer position with FC Bayern and the use of a racial slur during a city council meeting. Reiter acknowledged making “one or two mistakes” in the last two weeks and described the evening as “disappointing.”
The use of the slur drew condemnation from anti-racism groups. Modupe Laja of the Netzwerk Rassismus- und Diskriminierungsfreies Bayern stated that such language “not only demonstrates a lack of awareness of the experiences of those affected, but also undermines the credibility of one’s own resolutions.” Reiter later explained the remark as a quote from the late artist Fredl Fesl.
Runoffs Elsewhere in Bavaria
The need for runoff elections extends beyond Munich. In Nuremberg, incumbent Marcus König (CSU) will face SPD challenger Nasser Ahmed, after receiving 46 percent and 26.5 percent of the vote respectively. In Augsburg, Eva Weber (CSU) will compete against Florian Freund (SPD) after securing 34.0 percent and 19.9 percent of the vote.
Other cities seeing runoff elections include Erlangen, Aschaffenburg, Unterhaching, Neufahrn, and Ottobrunn. In Bamberg, former Bavarian Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) failed to qualify for the runoff.
Statewide Results Pending
A complete statewide picture of the election results will not be available until Wednesday, as votes from city and county council elections are tallied. The CSU saw a roughly five-percentage-point decline in the 2020 municipal elections, finishing with 34.5 percent of the vote statewide. The SPD experienced an even steeper drop, falling to 13.7 percent, a historic low. The Green Party achieved its best-ever result in 2020 with 17.5 percent.
The AfD is expected to increase its statewide share of the vote, having fielded candidates in all cities and counties this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the runoff elections take place?
The runoff elections will be held in two weeks, on March 22nd.
What were the results in Nuremberg and Augsburg?
In Nuremberg, Marcus König (CSU) received 46 percent of the vote, while Nasser Ahmed (SPD) received 26.5 percent. In Augsburg, Eva Weber (CSU) received 34.0 percent, and Florian Freund (SPD) received 19.9 percent.
What did Dieter Reiter say about his performance in the election?
Reiter stated he had made “one or two mistakes” in the last two weeks and described the evening as “for me, a disappointing election evening.”
As Bavaria heads towards these crucial runoff elections, will voters ultimately favor the established incumbents or embrace fresh leadership?
