Reinickendorf CDU to support AfD candidate for deputy mayor

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin's Reinickendorf district plans to elect Thomas Ruschin, an AfD candidate, as deputy mayor during the district assembly's inaugural meeting. Ruschin is a jurist who transitioned from the CDU to the AfD in 2020.

The decision follows the September 20, 2026, election, where the AfD secured 18.5 percent of the vote in Reinickendorf, placing second behind the CDU. While the Berlin Higher Administrative Court previously ruled that the AfD cannot legally compel appointments if local assemblies vote against them, Reinickendorf CDU leader Marvin Schulz argued that leaving posts vacant creates administrative inefficiencies.

Schulz described the move as a shift toward “pragmatic politics instead of camp politics,” citing a need to avoid the bottlenecks caused when other factions must absorb vacant portfolios. The move has sparked debate regarding the “firewall” (Brandmauer) intended to isolate the far-right party. While local CDU leaders deny forming a coalition, the decision contrasts with criticisms from federal CDU leadership.