Electorate Advocating for Involvement: "We seek participation in the upcoming administration!" - "Supporters Advocate for Inclusion in Upcoming Administration"
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election is set to take place on March 22, 2026, and one party making waves is the Free Voters.
Joachim Streit, currently serving in the European Parliament for the Free Voters, has been elected as the top candidate for the party in the upcoming election. Streit, who received an impressive 88.1% of the vote in his own election, is determined to lead the Free Voters to success.
However, the road to victory is not without its challenges. The party's parliamentary group in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament was dissolved in 2024 due to disagreements within the group. Stephan Wefelscheid, a former member of the dissolved parliamentary group, did not attend the party conference and resigned as state chairman at the end of 2024 due to disputes. Wefelscheid is running as a direct candidate in the Koblenz constituency.
The Free Voters are aiming for 7% of the votes in the state election, a significant increase from their previous performance. They see themselves as the voice of the municipalities and aim to address topics such as education, infrastructure, internal security, digitalization, and bureaucratic reduction if they return to the state parliament.
Patrick Kunz was elected fifth in the election, while Helge Schwab came in fourth, ahead of two other candidates. Lisa-Marie Jeckel came in second, followed by Christian Zoepfchen.
Christian Weiskopf, the Mainz district chairman, criticized the party for its performance in 2024, stating that it cost the party members and trust from voters. Weiskopf called for more willpower to make it back into the state parliament in 2026.
Streit expressed his disappointment with Wefelscheid's resignation from the state leadership last year. He criticized the increasing discrepancy between city and countryside, stating that there is a large gap in medical care and that no more hospitals will be closed with the Free Voters.
If the Free Voters return to the state parliament, Streit plans to resign his mandate in Brussels and return to Mainz. The Free Voters aim to secure government participation in the next state government, a goal that could bring about significant changes for Rhineland-Palatinate.
Approximately 170 of the approximately 1,200 members attended the party conference. Despite the low attendance, the Free Voters remain optimistic about their chances in the upcoming election. The identity of the current district chairman of the Free Voters in Mainz who criticized the party is not known at this time.
The Free Voters are gearing up for a fierce campaign in the Rhineland-Palatinate state election. With their sights set on 7% of the vote, they are determined to make their voices heard and bring about change for the people of Rhineland-Palatinate.
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