01-12-2025, 10:34 PM
![[Image: dOh7gKC.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/dOh7gKC.jpeg)
Tsargrad - After a relatively intense election campaign, Ljubomir Kelemen has been elected mayor of Tsargrad with 52% of the vote in his favor. The election saw the incumbent SSD trying to fight off a strong challenge by Kelemen and his local KDU, with the SSD (and SRS before) having controlled the capital for the last two decades. Kelemen was boosted by a electorate seemingly vatigued with SSD policy and lack of energy. SSD candidate Ilija Vukoja didnt campaign in the first three months of the campaign, believing the election to be sealed. But Kelemen, supported by a strong ground game from local KDU organizers, managed to climb up in the polls, resulting in Vukoja and the SSD scrambling to relaunch their campaign.
What followed was a tense election where Kelemen attacked Vukoja on his predecessors record, taking advantage of a rising crime rate, increased homelesness and a rising tax burden for Tsargrad residents. Additionally, the Vukoja campaign was chaotic, often seeking to use the SSD's national succes in their own campaign, even though local issues seemed to be on citizens minds more. Kelemen meanwhile succesfully ran a localized campaign, showing up everywhere and pointing out the issues in the city first hand. During the three debates, Kelemen was the clear winner as Vukoja stuttered and failed to garner enough attention.
On election day, the KDU won 32 of the 70 seats in the City Council, up 20 from the last election. Kelemen defeated his opponnents in the mayoral race, garnering 52% of the vote against Vukoja's 22%. Painfull was the fact that Vukoja only barely managed to cling on second place, with the Savez! candidate capturing 18% of the vote in another suprise in this election. Kelemen thanked his supporters for a "unbelievable campaign" and promised to work with all parties "in making our city better". He promised that, once inaugurated, he will sign a initiative to start renovations on the outdated Tsargrad Central Station in order to improve public transport in the city. He has furthermore pledged support to relaxing city regulations on construction, lowering the city real estate tax and investing in new police and community centers to enhance security.
Tsargrad is by far the largest city in the country, with a estimated 18 million residents within its metropolitan area. It is one of just three cities where the mayor is directly elected, besides Branovice and Balgrad. Due to its size and economic importance, it is seen as a indicator for national elections when a party wins in the capital. Already, several polls have indicated a rise in the KDU its popularity, despite the hosian democrats still lacking a national leader after the last general election. This is the first time in two decades that the KDU delivers the capital its mayor and the first time in over 30 years that the party has captured a plurality of seats in the city council.
What followed was a tense election where Kelemen attacked Vukoja on his predecessors record, taking advantage of a rising crime rate, increased homelesness and a rising tax burden for Tsargrad residents. Additionally, the Vukoja campaign was chaotic, often seeking to use the SSD's national succes in their own campaign, even though local issues seemed to be on citizens minds more. Kelemen meanwhile succesfully ran a localized campaign, showing up everywhere and pointing out the issues in the city first hand. During the three debates, Kelemen was the clear winner as Vukoja stuttered and failed to garner enough attention.
On election day, the KDU won 32 of the 70 seats in the City Council, up 20 from the last election. Kelemen defeated his opponnents in the mayoral race, garnering 52% of the vote against Vukoja's 22%. Painfull was the fact that Vukoja only barely managed to cling on second place, with the Savez! candidate capturing 18% of the vote in another suprise in this election. Kelemen thanked his supporters for a "unbelievable campaign" and promised to work with all parties "in making our city better". He promised that, once inaugurated, he will sign a initiative to start renovations on the outdated Tsargrad Central Station in order to improve public transport in the city. He has furthermore pledged support to relaxing city regulations on construction, lowering the city real estate tax and investing in new police and community centers to enhance security.
Tsargrad is by far the largest city in the country, with a estimated 18 million residents within its metropolitan area. It is one of just three cities where the mayor is directly elected, besides Branovice and Balgrad. Due to its size and economic importance, it is seen as a indicator for national elections when a party wins in the capital. Already, several polls have indicated a rise in the KDU its popularity, despite the hosian democrats still lacking a national leader after the last general election. This is the first time in two decades that the KDU delivers the capital its mayor and the first time in over 30 years that the party has captured a plurality of seats in the city council.