Hiltpoltstein faces new mayoral election after top candidate withdraws

A write-in winner's sudden exit leaves Hiltpoltstein scrambling. The deputy mayor steps in—but who will take charge for good?

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2026 March 11 . 5:04 PM

1 min read

The image shows a map of Germany with the provinces highlighted in red and blue, indicating the... — The image shows a map of Germany with the provinces highlighted in red and blue, indicating the results of the 2016 election. The text on the map provides further details about the election results, such as the names of the candidates and the date of the election.

New election instead of runoff: Election winner does not want to run - Hiltpoltstein faces new mayoral election after top candidate withdraws

Hiltpoltstein, a small town in Upper Franconia, must now hold a fresh mayoral election after a key candidate pulled out. The runoff vote was scrapped when the leading contender declined to proceed, leaving the position vacant. Authorities have set a three-month deadline for the new ballot.

The original election took place as a write-in vote, with no official nominees on the ballot. Matthias Witschel secured the highest share, winning 38.5% of the votes. However, he later chose not to enter the runoff round.

Georg Potzner, the current second mayor from the CSU, came in second with 24.1% of the vote. As the incumbent deputy, he will now handle mayoral responsibilities until a new leader is elected. Local regulations require a new election within three months. The town must organise the process quickly to avoid a prolonged gap in leadership.

The withdrawal of the top candidate has forced Hiltpoltstein to restart its mayoral race. Until then, Potzner will oversee daily operations as acting mayor. The next election will determine who permanently fills the role for the coming term.