Sven Schoeller is the new mayor of Kassel. The 50-year-old received 51.21 percent of the votes in the run-off election on Sunday and thus just barely achieved the required majority.
Schoeller is thus the first green head of town hall in the north Hessian city. The lawyer ran unopposed after the incumbent mayor, Christian Geselle, withdrew from the runoff election, even though he received the most votes in the first ballot two weeks ago. Among other things, Geselle justified the decision with a defamation campaign against him.
33.17 percent turnout
The 47-year-old, who moved into City Hall as an SPD candidate in 2017, ran as an independent candidate after internal party disputes. A few days ago he declared his withdrawal from the SPD.
A good 145,000 people were entitled to vote. Voter turnout was 33.17 percent.