The Green politician Belit Onay was elected mayor of Hanover this weekend. With 52.9 percent, he prevailed against the CDU candidate and former VW manager Eckhard Scholz. He is the first Lord Mayor of a state capital with a history of Turkish migration. It is a result with radiance far beyond Hanover. In social media, however, the new mayor is insulted by nationalists and racists.
SPIEGEL: What was that feeling of being Lord Mayor?
Belit Onay: That was an emotional explosion. A very, very cool feeling. It was a historic evening.
SPIEGEL: You are the first mayor of a state capital that has a history of migration. Her parents are from Turkey. Which signal does that send?
Onay: Especially in these times when populism and racism are on the rise, many people associate my choice with a very strong hope. On the other hand, it is an irritating topic for many. I notice that in the defamation in the social networks.
SPIEGEL: Can you describe that a little bit more?
Onay: Of course I was aware that my choice would provide for the public. But that hatred is so strong, I would not have thought. The hostilities are very different. Either one is defamed because one is of Turkish descent - and thus equal to Islamist or Erdogan followers. Or you are left-wing extremist. There are racist comments here, but also comments from identitarian circles - both from Germany as well as from Turkey. That's the page.
SPIEGEL: And the other one?
Onay: In the city, an incredible number of people congratulate me. They are really happy, on the street, in the train. This has more value for me than what goes on in the social networks. Most people in Hannover wanted to send a signal, a message of diversity. They did not want to give room to this hate, this malice, this polemic, this roar on the net. That's what counts.
SPIEGEL: What significance do politicians with migration history have in Germany?
Onay: Unfortunately, politicians with a migration background are in short supply. They are hardly present, neither in the Bundestag or in the Cabinet nor in the state parliaments. That's why my choice is a special feature for many. Most city mayors do not get as much attention on the first day of their term as I do right now.
SPIEGEL: Why is there so few politicians with migration history in Germany?
Onay: One reason is certainly the inner logic of parties. I experienced it myself - joining a party is like coming to a new class at the end of the semester. Everyone knows each other, there are already networks. Many have grown up with parents who are already active parents. This is not the case with many people with a migrant background. The parties have a hard time actively approaching these people, recruiting them. This is also related to role models. Of course, when young people with a migrant background see other politicians with a migrant background who are already active, they are motivated to get involved themselves.
SPIEGEL: What would change?
Onay: Right now there is a strong focus on the individuals who are becoming visible. If we were more then I would only be one of many. Then there would be more to the political discourse. That must be the goal.
SPIEGEL: What role did your migration background play in the election campaign?
Onay: Not that big a role. It was a matter of factual issues, housing policy, transport policy. This has gained importance after the election. At the election stands, I have often received positive feedback. People thought it cool that I run for office. With my name, my visibility.
SPIEGEL: You refer again and again to what role the Solingen arson attack played for your politicization. Why?
Onay: I was 12 years old then. My parents seriously discussed whether we should go back to Turkey. There was a huge fear. For me that would not have been back, but a departure from Goslar, from Germany, my home. That was very stressful. After the attack in Halle, I hear from Jewish friends that they are currently discussing the same thing. This is a setback for our open society.
SPIEGEL: To what extent has society changed in the past 30 years?
Onay: The hatred is still very present. This is shown by the attack in Halle, but also the attacks on mosque communities, in general the attacks on minorities in Germany. Hatred leads to violence. The right-wing extremist scene has also become more heavily armed. This is a stark dramatization of the situation.
SPIEGEL: What can one do against racism?
Onay: Unfortunately, that's not easy. I think it needs, for example, a stronger observation of the scene. In social media, hate comments must be more controlled and stopped. There must be no fake news. Because these fabricated stories are the breeding ground for radical thought worlds and, as a consequence, for acts of violence. But education also needs to do more against racism. It must be clear that discrimination is never just a problem for those affected, but for society as a whole. The climate is totally poisoned.