Five cities elect mayors

Görlitz, Döbeln, Werdau, Aue-Bad Schlema and Dippoldiswalde: citizens in these five Saxon cities are being called upon to vote for their mayor on Sunday. The more than 100,000 eligible voters can cast their votes from 8 am to 6 pm.

In Görlitz, Lord Mayor Octavian Ursu (CDU) wants to defend his office. In addition to the Greens, the alliances "Kommunalpolitisches Netzwerk Motor Görlitz" and "Bürger für Görlitz" have also backed his candidacy. As in 2019, AfD member of the state parliament Sebastian Wippel is standing as his challenger. Sabine Christian (Linke) and Hagen Jeschke (non-party) are also standing for election.

Office holder faces challengers

The incumbent is also running again in Döbeln (district of Central Saxony): Sven Liebhauser (CDU) wants to remain head of the town for another seven years. Running against him are: Jörg Koitsch (BSW), Sven Weißflog (Freie Wähler) and Sven Hofmann from the far-right minor party "Freie Sachsen".

The mayor of Dippoldiswalde (Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge), Kerstin Körner, is also running again, but this time not for the CDU, but as an independent candidate. The challengers are Tom Wittig (Left Party) and Marcus Wünschmann (non-party).

The picture is similar in Werdau (Zwickau district): Lord Mayor Sören Kristensen (Independent List) is opposed by Willy Leo Lippold (Left Party) and Philipp Meyer (Citizens for Werdau).

Aue-Bad Schlema gets new Lord Mayor

The incumbent is already set to relinquish his post in Aue-Bad Schlema (Erzgebirgskreis). Heinrich Kohl (CDU) has to retire due to his age, and Marcus Hoffmann will take over as the CDU candidate. Lars Bochmann (AfD), Tony Neuß (Die Linke), Danny Weber (Freie Wähler) and Stefan Hartung (Freie Sachsen) are also on the ballot paper.

50% required to win in the first round

This is the first round of voting, in which a candidate must win at least 50% of the vote to emerge victorious. If no one succeeds, there is a second round in which the candidate with the most votes wins. The dates are set for May 31 or June 7.