Social citizens of Weiden: approval to vote rejected – who will run?

Social citizens of Weiden: approval to vote rejected – who will run?

Something is happening on the political stage in Weiden, as the local elections on March 8, 2026 are looming. But not all parties are allowed to run, as the current decision of the city election committee shows. The “Social Citizens of Weiden” list, which wanted to run for the election, was not admitted. The committee made the decision because the required 215 signatures were not reached. The association was only able to collect 165 valid signatures for mayoral candidate Ali Zant and 172 in total. Zant also lost his seat on the city council.

At the same time, the Junge Liste was pleased to be admitted to the election. With a whopping 326 valid signatures, she will compete to give young people a voice. This is particularly significant since the youngest city council member is currently 40 years old – Lukas Frey from the Junge Liste.

The diversity of parties at a glance

In the upcoming elections, Weiden voters will have a diverse range of parties to choose from. Approved parties include:

• Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V. (CSU)
• Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)
• BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (GRÜNE)
• Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)
• Bürgerliste Weiden e.V. (BLW)
• Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP)
• Die Linke (Die Linke)
• Junge Liste
• FREIE WÄHLER Bayern – Freie Wähler Weiden

This means a total of 9 parties and 7 mayoral candidates fighting for the votes of Weiden residents on March 8th. The deadline for submitting election proposals ended on January 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., and the meeting of the city election committee took place today, January 20, at 10:00 a.m. in the large meeting room of the New Town Hall - public and therefore accessible to all interested parties.

Elections in Germany – A brief overview

What many people don't know: local elections in Germany are more than just a side note. They concern parliamentary representation in municipalities and cities and also the direct election of mayors. The Basic Law requires citizens to have a voice in the form of general, free and secret elections. In Weiden, as in the rest of Germany, all EU citizens who are eligible to vote are allowed to cast their vote. These elections are often characterized by local issues, which influences voting behavior.

The different electoral laws, which vary at the state level, contribute to the diversity of electoral systems in Germany. In the southern German mayoral constitution, such as in Weiden, the mayor is elected directly, which promotes proximity to the citizens and responsibility of the elected representatives.

What happens next remains exciting. The question of who can win the majority of votes and the vote of Weiden's citizens on March 8th is up for debate. The competition promises to be an interesting race, and perhaps the Young List will actually bring new faces to the city council. There is great anticipation for election evening.

Further information about the elections and the procedural aspects can be found on the website of OTV and Weiden.de. For a deeper insight into the topic of local elections in Germany, the Federal Agency for Civic Education exciting content. It's worth a look!