Town hall faces looming ominously under a black sky
Meißen, a town steeped in history and known as the "cradle of Saxony," is gearing up for a contentious mayoral election this Sunday. The small town, with a population of 29,000, will celebrate its 1100th anniversary in four years, but the focus is currently on the election race.
One of the leading candidates is independent builder René Jurisch, who has been accused of being close to right-wing extremist ideology. Jurich, a former member of the right-wing extremist NPD, is running for mayor with the support of federal AfD politicians.
In June 2024, Jurisch secured the best result in the city council election, receiving almost 3,300 votes. However, his political career has been marked by controversy. In April, the AfD in the city council, led by Jurich, withdrew the municipal funding of Buntes Meißen, an alliance promoting democracy and integration, at his initiative.
Jurich's tenure as a city council member has been marked by tension. He is alleged to have torpedoed the work of the Democracy and Integration Alliance Buntes Meißen. A photo of a banner with the slogan "Stop the human-made population change" was reportedly hung in front of Jurich's house.
The controversy surrounding Jurich escalated in October 2024 when he ensured that Buntes Meißen was removed from a proposal list for EU funding. This decision led to legal action from the Proschwitz winery and the State Porcelain Manufactory Meißen, claiming serious damage to their reputation.
In another incident, a flyer distributed during the election campaign showed a Schwibbogen with a Reichsadler from Jurich's private environment. Jurich has also been criticised for wearing a bloodstained t-shirt with the words "Problem solved" in a photo.
Perhaps most controversially, Jurich still has a tattoo of a Nazi symbol, the Black Sun, on his upper arm. This has led to accusations of extremist views and has caused outrage among many in the town.
Despite the controversies, Jurich remains a strong contender in the mayoral race. If none of the three leading candidates receives over 50% in the Sunday vote, a second round will take place on September 28. A simple majority will suffice, and all candidates may run again.
Meanwhile, the AfD party is hoping for a victory in Meißen. André Kämpfe, the next mayor of the AfD in Saxony, won the election in the town of Ohorn, east of Dresden. Kämpfe expressed his desire to acquire the historic Kornhaus next to the Albrechtsburg in Meißen in 2022.
As the election day approaches, the town of Meißen is divided, with some supporting Jurich and others vehemently opposed. The outcome of the election could have significant implications for the future of this historic town.
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