The Far-right AfD fails to win first mayoral seat

The far-right Alternative for Germany has failed to win its first mayoral seat on Sunday. The party has failed in a main election in the east German part. The party was on its very first attempt to take the control of a German city.

Sebastian Wippel, the party’s candidate has failed to win the mayoral runoff election in the city of Görlitz with 44.8 percent of the vote. If Wippel could win the seat, he would have become Germany’s first-ever AfD mayor.

The Major German governing party, centre-right Christian Democrats’ Octavian Ursu had won a leading vote of more than 55% in the city of Görlitz.

The area around the town had been the backdrop to some Hollywood films, including Inglourious Basterds and The Grand Budapest Hotel. This had given it its nickname Görliwood. Ahead of the vote, several actors and filmmakers linked with the city wrote an open letter requesting the residents not to support the AfD.

Following his victory, Mr Ursu said, “I am happy that a majority has chosen to vote for me. But in the end it is not about two candidates but the orientation of this town to the outside world.” He added, “We remain an open society and do not isolate ourselves”.

Image courtesy: euronews .com / images are subject to copyright