Boris Pistorius's Future Political Plans

Boris Pistorius, the Federal Minister of Defense and former Lord Mayor of Osnabrück, has announced that he will not run for the Osnabrück constituency in the 2025 federal election. However, he has left open the possibility of running in another constituency in Lower Saxony.

This decision comes after the surprising victory of SPD candidate Manuel Gava over CDU candidate Mathias Middelberg in the 2021 election. The Osnabrück-Stadt constituency includes not only the city of Osnabrück, but also Georgsmarienhütte and several municipalities.

The final decision on Pistorius's candidacy will be made by the SPD delegates from the constituency at the nominating convention in October 2024. Meanwhile, in Viersen, Christoph Hopp, the head of Erasmus-von-Rotterdam-Gymnasium, is planning to run as the CDU's candidate for the mayor in the 2025 municipal election.

Hopp, who narrowly lost to the incumbent SPD mayor in 2020, is considered the CDU's top choice. He aims to focus on economic development, improving schools and childcare, ensuring security, and promoting the city's image as a visionary and determined place.