Freiburg: Green Mayor Salomon voted out after 16 years

In 2002, Dieter Salomon became the first green mayor of a big city. Now he was defeated by the partyless Martin Horn. After the triumph, a tooth was knocked out.

Freiburg: Green Mayor Salomon voted out after 16 years

The mayor of Freiburg, Dieter Salomon (Greens), was elected in office after 16 years. The 57-year-old, according to provisional final result, only reached 30.7 percent of votes on Sunday's runoff. His challenger, partyless social scientist Martin Horn, thus reached 44.2 percent. According to town hall, turnout was 51.7 percent.

At new Lord Mayor's party, re was an incident on evening of choice. Horn was beaten in face shortly after his victory, confirmed Freiburg police. The consequences: A broken tooth and a wound under eye. Horn was brought to a hospital for furr clarification. A 54 year old suspect was arrested. The police said that man "had already emerged as mentally conspicuous by several incidents in past". The furr investigations take over State protection.

Youngest if a German city

Horn, whose candidacy was supported by SPD, had already had a good three percentage points before Salomon in first round of elections two weeks ago. The 33-year-old is now, according to his own data, youngest mayor of a German city. He will enter his office on 1 July.

Salomon had announced before election to retire in event of a defeat. On evening of night, he said, "For me, a new stage of life begins." Salomon was 2002 as first Green politician to be elected mayor of a big city. With about 230,000 inhabitants, Freiburg is fourth largest city in Baden-Württemberg. Before Salomon, SPD had placed mayor in Freiburg for 40 years.

One of dominant mes in election campaign was high rental prices in University city. The election output has symbolic significance beyond municipal level and is regarded as a bad sign for Greens of Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann, who reign in country toger with CDU.

Date Of Update: 07 May 2018, 12:02
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