In view of the prevailing general uncertainty in society, City Council President Frank Mentrup believes it is possible that people will put their cross beyond the middle in the 2024 local elections. “If this dissatisfaction continues at the time of the local elections, then it will certainly have an impact on parties that are more on the right or left can expect growth,” said the SPD politician to the German Press Agency in Karlsruhe.
Uncertainty always leads to growth at the edges. “There is currently no offer on the left that is convincing,” analyzed Mentrup, who is also the mayor of Karlsruhe. “But if this uncertainty changes again, it could be completely different. That’s why I find it difficult to speak of a general shift to the right.” Survey results are often volatile. And to speak of a shift to the right now would, in his view, send the wrong signals.
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“Regardless of upcoming elections, it is important to regain people’s trust overall and with the solidarity of the democratic levels in politics,” warned Mentrup. But there isn’t much time left. “Otherwise dissatisfaction will become entrenched.” Although from his point of view the degree of dissatisfaction varies regionally, “without wanting to open up such an East-West divide.” He would like to see more parties take a very proactive approach to the current discussion.
Local elections and European elections take place at the same time
Mentrup sees an opportunity in the fact that the local elections in Baden-Württemberg will again take place at the same time as the European elections on June 9, 2024. Last time this led to increased voter turnout; more young people than usual went to vote. And in the end, despite fears, there was no shift to the right.
“Back then, the nationalist, anti-European efforts were just as intense and some saw the 2019 European elections as a fateful election for the EU,” said Mentrup. “But that’s exactly what didn’t happen.” In this respect, the basic mood towards Europe could have a greater influence on the local elections than the question of what the mood is towards German politics.
Frank Mentrup (SPD), Mayor of Karlsruhe. | Image: Uli Deck/dpa
He hopes that the election will be a clear commitment to the European Union. “And here at the moment I don’t see that the AfD’s wishy-washy exit from Europe is met with approval in society,” said the association president. “To say that we don’t really want to get out of there, but then somehow want to score points with the anti-position, that doesn’t work.”
In relation to the hype surrounding the current AfD successes, for example in a district election in Thuringia, it should not be forgotten that the AfD won two direct mandates in the 2016 state election in Baden-Württemberg – in Pforzheim and Mannheim. “It is not something completely new for us that AfD politicians are given important political positions. Particularly in Baden-Württemberg, it is not appropriate to point fingers at the around 57,000 people in a small district in the east of the republic “Mentrup said. “We have to face ourselves and admit that there have already been processes here that we would not have thought possible a few years ago.”
2023-09-17 14:58:47
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