Slightly fewer new candidates running for municipal council seats on March 18

The number of new names on the ballot for the upcoming municipal elections has decreased slightly compared to 2022, according to an ANP analysis of the Electoral Council’s final candidate lists. Of the 61,549 people, 59.1 percent (36,357 candidates) were not on the candidate lists four years ago.

In 2022, there were 62.2 percent new candidates. The number of people returning to the ballot increased slightly this election (40.9 percent).

Of the newcomers, 61.8 percent are candidates for a party that is also represented at the national level. Local parties have 13,882 new candidates, 38.2 percent of the total newcomers.

Fourteen people are on the ballot for both a national and a local party. Candidates are allowed to run in two municipalities: their current municipality of residence and another. For the second municipality, the candidate must submit a form indicating that they are willing to relocate if elected there. A council member must live in the municipality they represent.

This year, 988 parties are seeking a seat in a municipal council. Of these, 375 did not participate in the previous election.

The CDA is the party with the most new faces on the candidate lists in absolute numbers. Approximately half of the party’s 7,952 candidates did not participate in the 2022 elections.