The town hall faces the blackened sky
Meißen, the historic "cradle of Saxony", is preparing for a crucial election this Sunday, as the town votes for a new mayor. Among the candidates is René Jurisch, a 51-year-old construction entrepreneur who is running as an independent, but with the support of federal AfD politicians.
Jurisch, who leads the city council faction in Meißen, has been a controversial figure. He has been accused of having ties to right-wing extremist ideology, and allegations of Nazi symbolism have surfaced. A tattoo of the "Schwarze Sonne" (Black Sun), a symbol used by the Nazi party, was found on his upper arm.
The controversy surrounding Jurisch has not been limited to his personal life. As city councilor, he has been criticised for his actions against the Democracy and Integration Alliance Buntes Meißen. In April, under his leadership, the AfD withdrew municipal funding for the alliance. In October 2024, Jurisch ensured that Buntes Meißen was removed from a proposal list for EU funding.
The actions against Buntes Meißen have not gone unnoticed. A photo of a banner with the slogan "Stop the human-caused population change" was circulated, allegedly hung outside Jurisch's house. A flyer distributed during the election campaign in Meißen showed a Schwibbogen with a Reichsadler from Jurisch's private environment. These incidents have led to legal action from the Proschwitz winery and the State Porcelain Manufactory Meißen, who feel unlawfully used for the AfD campaign.
The video posted by Jurisch further fuelled the outrage. In the video, he accused the democracy association of being "deeply entwined with Antifa," which supposedly "destroys its perceived enemies in SA manner."
Jurisch's actions have not deterred his supporters, however. He received the highest number of votes in the city council election in June 2024, with almost 3,300 votes.
If none of the three leading candidates, Jurisch, Markus Renner, and Martin Bahrmann, receives over 50 percent in the Sunday vote, a second round will be held on September 28. All candidates may run again in the second round.
The town of Ohorn, east of Dresden, has already experienced the expansion of the AfD's power in local communities. In 2024, André Kämpfe, an independent candidate and a customs officer, was elected as the new mayor of Ohorn on the AfD list. The small town of Ohorn, with a population of 2,500, has now become a testament to the AfD's growing influence.
As the election in Meißen approaches, the town is divided. The controversy surrounding Jurisch has raised questions about the direction Meißen will take. The election on Sunday will be a significant moment in the town's history, and the results will have far-reaching implications.
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