There are good reasons for local politicians to draw attention to hatred and violence against the "heroes of democracy" (Udo di Fabio). Many of them on a voluntary basis, take care of the interests of citizens in cities, municipalities and districts, from whose midst they are then insulted and sometimes violently attacked.

What happened now in Kassel is unique in this respect, but should not set a precedent. The winner in the first round of the OB election, the incumbent Lord Mayor Christian Geselle, withdrew his candidacy for the run-off election on election night. Reason: recent defamation against himself and his family. That deserves respect. But is that the real reason?

Non-party members also need parties

The incident fits much better into the picture presented by the established parties at the municipal level. They count for little, heads are elected. Part of the truth is that Geselle had fallen out with his party, the SPD, and ran as an independent. Non-party members, however, cannot achieve much without a party. Although strongest, journeyman fared far worse than six years ago.

Voters will have little sympathy for his behaviour. Not only are their votes "lost", but they also had no chance to vote for another candidate. What the Greens failed to do in Berlin, Frankfurt and Mainz (so much for the highly praised "big city party") is now possible in Kassel. The only hero of democracy left is one of them.