In a First, a Politician Originating from Turkey Elected Mayor in Germany
* Photo: Birol Tan / AA
Click to read the article in Turkish
Belit Onay, a politician originating from Turkey, has been elected the Metropolitan Mayor of Hannover from the Greens Party (Die Grünen) in Germany. It is the first time that a politician whose family came from Turkey has been elected Metropolitan Mayor in the history of the country.
He received 52.9 percent of the votes
In the second round of the election for Metropolitan Municipality of Hannover, Belit Onay, the candidate of the Greens, has been elected the Mayor. His closest opponent was Eckhard Scholz, an independent candidate supported by the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU).
According to the election results published on the official website of the Hannover Metropolitan Municipality, Belit Onay has received 52.9 percent of all valid votes. 38-year-old Onay also came first in the first round of elections held in the city two weeks ago.
'I will do my best for the city'
Shortly after the election drew to an end, Onay has shared a message on his Twitter account: "Today, Hannover has chosen the departure. I can only say once again: Thank you! And I can promise you all that I will do my best for our city in the next seven years! Together we are Hannover."
Heute hat Hannover den Aufbruch gewählt. Ich kann nur abermals sagen: Danke! Und ich kann euch allen versprechen, dass ich in den nächsten sieben Jahren mein Bestes für unsere Stadt geben werde! Zusammen sind wir #Hannover pic.twitter.com/w3BUuJ1Ftg
— Belit Onay (@BelitOnay) November 10, 2019
A new party after 73 years
Making a statement at the Hannover Municipality building as well, Onay thanked the ones who supported him during the pre-election process.
The Metropolitan Municipality of Hannover was governed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for 73 years. It will also be the first time that the city will be governed by a mayor from the Greens Party.
Who is Belit Onay?
Politician, Metropolitan Mayor of Hannover. In 1981, he was born in the city of Goslar in Germany, where his family emigrated.
While he was studying at university, he was elected to the municipal council from the Greens Party in 2011. He was elected an MP at the Federal Council of Germany (Bundesrat). He was nominated for the Metropolitan Mayorship of Hannover by the Greens. (TP/SD)