Schubert voted out: Potsdam's political change shakes the SPD!

Schubert voted out: Potsdam's political change shakes the SPD!

Potsdam, Deutschland - On May 26, 2025, the political landscape of Brandenburg was shaped by a significant change: Mike Schubert was voted out as Mayor of Potsdam. In the event of a citizens' decision, more than two thirds of the voters voted for his premature end of office. Schubert, who has been in office since 2018, was under pressure due to his controversial VIP ticket affair and critical voices. Only the SPD still supported him, while the other city factions called for a fresh start. The turnout was 37.2 percent, with 68.3 percent voting for the deselection, which corresponds to 36,228 votes. The necessary quorum of 25 percent of those entitled to vote briefly exceeded. A total of 143,200 people aged 16 and over were entitled to vote in Potsdam. Mayor Burkhard Exner (SPD) will now take over the official business until a new election date has been determined, which must take place within five months, according to ZDF.

The deselection of Schubert not only represents a loss for him personally, but could also have far -reaching consequences for the SPD in Brandenburg. This party has traditionally occupied the mayor posts in Potsdam since 1990. The relegation of the SPD is also evident in the 2024 local elections, in which it received only 16.6 percent of the votes and finished third behind the AfD and the CDU. In the upcoming Bundestag election in 2025, the party was also downgraded to 14.8 percent. This development has led to the formation of a shaky coalition with the citizens' alliance, as RBB24 reported.

consequences and challenges

The loss of the mayor's office could severely impair the image of the SPD in Brandenburg and face the challenge of keeping its municipal basis in Potsdam. Possible successor candidates for Schubert are already being discussed within the SPD, including Daniel Keller, the Minister of Economics from Brandenburg and chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, as well as Manja Schüle, the Minister of Science and Culture. Keller, 38 years and Potsdamer, is considered a serious candidate, while Schüle is a sympathizer in public, but had previously rejected ambitions to a candidacy.

The political situation is also complex due to the upcoming local elections on June 9, 2024. In these elections, citizens will choose members for different bodies, including city council meetings and municipal administrations. Around 22,500 applicants for around 6,100 seats compete in Brandenburg. In the past, the AfD has received the most votes in several counties and is classified as a right -wing extremist suspicion. The challenges for the SPD could be even greater in this context, since its role as a "Brandenburg party" is at stake, as the political education of Brandenburg illustrates.