Municipality elects mayor who did not want to run

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Voting booth (symbolic image): Alexander Schindler did not stand for health reasons – and was elected anyway

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via www.imago-images.de / imago images/Political-Moments

Mayoral elections are more personal elections than almost any other political vote in Germany.

Party affiliation or ideology usually plays a much smaller role than the personality of the applicant.

Alexander Schindler had to find out that too.

For health reasons, Schindler withdrew his candidacy for the mayoral election in Schwanau, Baden-Württemberg, about two weeks ago - and was still elected, as reported by the "Badische Zeitung", among others.

With a total of eleven candidates and also a few votes for “Other”, he even received an absolute majority of almost 58 percent with more than 1700 votes.

New elections as a goal?

According to the broadcaster SWR, Schindler's name was still on the ballot.

Cüneyt Kilic, who came second, achieved just over nine percent, the other candidates did even worse.

Despite the election result, it is questionable whether Schindler will become mayor.

He has not yet accepted the election, according to reports.

According to the Lahrer Zeitung, he has a week to do this.

Otherwise, voting would have to be repeated with new candidates.

According to the "Badischer Zeitung", voting again with new candidates could also have been the goal of the voters.

There is now a chance of a candidate field.

As hoped, the way to a new election is now clear, a local councilor is quoted as saying.

The previous mayor, Wolfgang Brucker, resigned after more than 20 years and is now the director of a regional association.

Apr