Franziska Giffey has lost the support of the voters

taketonews

By Julian Loevenich and Danilo Gladow

Franziska Giffey (44) secured a sad victory in the election on Sunday: In no other constituency did the SPD lose as many votes as in Giffey’s home constituency. The Social Democrats have lost a total of nine percent of second votes in Rudow compared to 2021 – making the SPD leader the frontrunner.

For the (still) Governing Mayoress, it’s going to be rock solid. Not only did the second votes fall away, while the CDU was able to add around 17 percentage points. She has also lost her direct mandate to the CDU, falling in free fall from 40.8 percent to 29.6!

Katharina Titze and Heinrich Paschek (both 27), educators:

Katharina Titze and Heinrich Paschek (both 27), educators: “Neither of us voted for the SPD because it doesn’t stand for change. That’s why we don’t want Ms. Giffey.” Photo: Ralf Gunther

So she has it in black and white: The voters not only voted against the coalition – but also against Giffey himself. She has lost the support of the population.

The direct mandate was her reassurance, her certainty that she was valued by the citizens. Especially since she got it in a constituency that had been dominated by the CDU for years. All the more disastrous now the deselection.

Marko Fischer (19), student: “Many have lost hope here, although there is so much that could be done with the district. There is a lack of offers in the neighborhood to get the kids off the streets

Marko Fischer (19), student: “Many have lost hope here, although there is so much that could be done with the district. There is a lack of offers in the neighborhood to get the kids off the streets” Photo: Ralf Gunther

We are visiting Rudow, near Gropiuspassage, where Giffey’s political home was until Sunday. Bernd B. (68) has lived in the district for years and has always been a staunch SPD voter: “On Sunday, out of disappointment, I voted for the CDU for the first time,” he says.

Bernd B. (68), pensioner:

Bernd B. (68), pensioner: “Ms. Giffey didn’t manage to change anything. The security policy in Neukölln has failed. Deals are being made on every corner. On Sunday, out of disappointment, I voted for the CDU for the first time.” Photo: Ralf Gunther

And: “Unfortunately, Ms. Giffey didn’t manage to change anything.” The security policy in Neukölln had failed, he says. “I didn’t dare go out on the street here on New Year’s Eve.”

Lack of change: Giffey in Rudow also accuses many others of this. How things will continue for Berlin’s rulers is completely unclear.

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