Potsdam voters have delivered a stunning rebuke to the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which has held the mayoralty since 1990, propelling non-party candidate Noosha Aubel into a runoff election. Aubel garnered 36.9 percent of the vote in Sunday’s election,considerably outpacing SPD candidate Pierre Esser,who received 29.5 percent. Approximately 143,000 residents were eligible to vote, with turnout reaching 55.5 percent – a 2.5 percent increase compared to the 2018 municipal election.The outcome marks a dramatic shift in potsdam’s political landscape, fueled by public dissatisfaction with former mayor Mike Schubert, who was ousted in a citizens’ decision in May following criticism related to accepting free tickets – a “VIP ticket affair” - for himself and his wife. Schubert’s term was set to conclude in autumn 2026, but the scandal and subsequent examination by the Neuruppin public prosecutor’s office, which concluded with a 34,000 euro settlement, triggered the early vote.
Aubel’s strong showing signals a desire for change among Potsdam residents. The runoff election, scheduled for October 27th, will pit Aubel against Esser, offering voters a clear choice between a political newcomer and the established SPD. Previous mayors include Horst Gramlich (1990-1998), Matthias Platzeck (1998-2002), Jann Jakobs (2002-2018), and Schubert (2018-2025).