Dresden (dpa/sn) - incumbent Dirk Hilbert (FDP) is ahead in the mayoral election in Dresden, but missed an absolute majority. He received 32.5 percent of the votes, as the city announced on Sunday evening after counting all 538 polling stations. Hilbert stood up for the "Independent Citizens for Dresden" alliance, which is also supported by the CDU. He clearly left the other candidates behind with a gap of more than 13 percentage points. A second round of voting will take place on Sunday, July 10th. Only then will it be clear who will rule Dresden's town hall in the future.
In the other places are Dresden's environmental mayor Eva Jähningen (Greens) with 18.9 percent, SPD interior expert Albrecht Pallas (15.2 percent), the AfD MEP Maximilian Krah (14.2 percent) and the left candidate André Schollbach ( 10.3 percent). Martin Schulte-Wissermann received significantly fewer votes for the Pirate Party (2.9 percent) and the individual candidates Marcus Fuchs (3.4 percent) - organizer of the Dresden "Querdenker" demos - and Sascha Wolff (1.3 percent).
Hilbert said at his election party on Sunday evening that the people of Dresden had made a clear statement. He is by far the number 1 in the field of applicants. Now it's time to step on the gas for another four weeks. "I think the people of Dresden have clearly opted for honesty." Citizens wanted more stability at the top of the city.
According to the city, turnout was 47.4 percent on Sunday, slightly lower than in 2015. At that time, 51.1 percent of those entitled to vote went to the polls in the first ballot.
