A yellow excavator is making a deafening noise as it demolishes the remains of another dilapidated property in the Bismarck district of Gelsenkirchen. An entire city block of seven buildings will be razed to the ground. New houses and a kindergarten are to be built on the site. The message can be interpreted as: "We are finally taking action and taking away the topics that feed the Alternative for Germany!"
Because neglected properties and piles of garbage on the street were not only a huge nuisance for residents, but also a favorite topic of the partly far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), whose politicians linked it to migration from southeastern Europe.
Criminal groups, primarily from Romania and Bulgaria, lured people to the Bismarck settlement through a mafia-style exploitation system, placing them in dilapidated houses without electricity or water, offering them illegal jobs and taking social assistance. The city, where one in four residents lives on social assistance, has bought up dozens of dilapidated buildings and is now demolishing them.
The demolition work can barely be heard from the kiosk around the corner, but it seems as if the message of a new beginning comes too late. "The traditional parties finally need a slap in the face," it says. "The situation is getting worse" or "We have no hope anymore." But no one wants to give their names. Will they vote for the Social Democrats in their traditional stronghold? Nervous laughter.
When asked who they will vote for on Sunday, no one wants to answer.
AfD mayoral candidate wants second round
And silence is the answer: after the far-right AfD became the strongest force in the city of 24,7 in the federal elections in February with 265.000 percent, it is now hoping for another success in western Germany. It is the first test of the new red-black federal government's mandate.
The AfD is even receiving support for local elections in Germany's most populous state (18 million people) from Elon Musk, who wrote on Platform X: "Either Germany votes for the AfD or it's the end of Germany."
Five years ago, the party won almost 13 percent and thus eleven seats in the Gelsenkirchen city council. According to forecasts, after these elections, the city parliament could have even more Alternative for Germany deputies.
The AfD is fielding 72-year-old Norbert Emmerich in the mayoral race. The financial advisor and former professional soldier has focused his campaign entirely on security issues and has a good chance of reaching the second round against the Social Democratic candidate, Andrea Herenz.
An AfD mayor in western Germany would be a precedent – but highly unlikely, as the other parties would support a city councillor in charge of social affairs in the second round.
"Lalok Libre" – soon without funds to help poor children?
"I'm really afraid that the AfD will achieve a very good result on Sunday. Because here we are taking care of people who they would rather send back like packages with a postage stamp, on a bus and on a march!" Venetia Haronzas tells DW. "And the AfD is sure of victory without a big campaign. According to the system: 'We've already done it, now we just have to count the votes.'"
This 69-year-old social worker is an institution in the city, known to many only as "Mother Lalok". "Lalok Libre" (free space) is a youth and family center, located right next to dilapidated buildings. Every day, thirty children and young people from 12 countries find security and perspective there. These are the ones in whom few people believe.
Haronzas fears for his work and life's work if the AfD does come to power in Gelsenkirchen. He says the party has already indicated that the city does not need parity organizations or integration projects. The end of the "Lalok Libre" project, which has existed for more than 40 years, would have catastrophic consequences.
"I don't even want to imagine what would happen to those kids, they would end up on the streets or they would be ruined at home," says Venetia Haronzas, who has just managed to find a place for a young man in vocational training. "I don't know what will happen to us. But I fear the worst, because the money we get from the city is on a voluntary basis."
Intimidation of politicians critical of the AfD
Jan Speht is a man who, like few others in the city council and on the streets, is fighting against the AfD's rise in the former mining metropolis. The 44-year-old engineer has been a member of the city council for six years as a representative of the left-wing AUF party and has twice organized demonstrations against the AfD.
He tells DW that the work of the Alternative for Germany in the city council is not particularly constructive: "They often take over proposals from other municipalities on topics such as gender, early education or sex education that have nothing to do with Gelsenkirchen. Or topics like the work of the foreigners' office and how to speed up deportations."
A scandal erupted at a city council meeting in June, reports the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung: AfD politician Tobias Obernir allegedly told the current mayor, Karin Welge, “Shut your mouth.” Welge wanted to throw him out of the hall, Obernir denied saying that. Specht has also been under attack – a video he made criticizing the AfD immediately received 500 comments from party supporters. His predecessor on the city council, Monika Gertner-Engel, even received death threats.
His experience from door-to-door campaigning: Many Gelsenkirchen residents know what is at stake in these elections and do not want the AfD to strengthen. He always tells undecided voters the following:
"The AfD is against the minimum wage, against progressive taxation and inheritance tax, and they also want to abolish the trade tax in municipalities. It is not a party for small people."
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