Erfurt (dpa/th) – Around 33,000 Thuringians are called on Sunday to elect their mayors by runoff. In 26 municipalities, voters have to vote again because none of the candidates achieved a majority in the first round of the municipal elections. Two full-time mayors are to be elected in Leinefelde-Worbis (Eichsfeld district) and Wachenburg office (Ilm district) as well as 24 honorary local politicians.

Two weeks ago, mayors were elected in 325 Thuringian communities – in 299 of them an applicant prevailed. At around 51 percent, voter turnout was lower than six years ago, when it was around 54 percent.