An SPD member assures the Green Party campaigners in a Bornheim pub that he has already voted out Mayor Peter Feldmann (also SPD) in a letter.

It can also be heard from the group at the next table that they have already voted or are planning to go to the polling station on November 6th.

Still, they take coasters with campaign slogans on them to give out to friends and at work.

Sarah Wagener

volunteer

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Several times a week, politicians from the Greens currently campaign in pubs to commemorate Feldmann's deselection.

She has had good experiences with this in past election campaigns, says Miriam Dahlke, a member of the Hessian state parliament.

With the evening tours they reach different people than with a classic stand in the city center and they have a different campaign mood.

Four other campaigners are on the road with the Green politician this Thursday, including a member from the founding years and a young woman who is actively involved for the first time.

On their beer mats, for example, it says: "When Feldmann is voted out, everyone ticks the box.

And when he's gone 3."

Pub-goers confused by back and forth

With the distribution of beer coasters, the election campaigners quickly get through in most bars, because the majority of the guests, including city employees and supporters of various parties, Feldmann wants to vote out of office anyway.

Longer conversations come about mainly because some pub-goers are confused by the back and forth about the resignation: Hadn't Feldmann offered it?

Why should he be voted out?

Then the election campaigners explain that Feldmann had not accepted being voted out by city councilors in the summer and wanted to stay in office if the referendum failed.

Many also want to know what would happen if they were voted out.

They are concerned that city politics will then focus more on itself than on content.

Then the beer coasters are used again, because one of them says: "Let's talk about politics again.

Instead of a politician”.

According to the campaigners, a new mayor could probably be elected by the citizens in the spring, before all parties would nominate their candidates.

Such talks are important, says Dahlke.

But above all, the pub election campaign is about reaching as many people as possible and reminding them of the election, she emphasizes.

In fact, some are surprised that the referendum is so close.

And also at the tables where those who have already voted are sitting

Overall, the reactions in this election campaign are particularly positive, says Dahlke.

As in Bornheim, most of the pub guests in other parts of the city and the visitors to the joint stand of the parties supporting the deselection on the Zeil had already voted by post or wanted to go to the polling station.

The campaign team is therefore in good spirits that the comparatively high hurdle of a majority consisting of at least 30 percent of those entitled to vote can be reached.

Nevertheless, "you always have to step on the gas," says Dahlke.