Atici, Cramer and Urgese in the second round of voting in Basel-Stadt
Published: Sunday, Mar 3rd 2024, 19:20
Updated At: Sunday, Mar 3rd 2024, 19:20
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No one has achieved an absolute majority in the by-elections in Basel-Stadt. Mustafa Atici (SP) and Luca Urgese (FDP) will compete for the seat of government in the second round of voting on April 7. Conradin Cramer (LDP), who is running for the presidency of the government, fell just short of the absolute majority and will therefore have to run again, as the State Chancellery announced on Sunday evening.
Former National Councillor Atici received 24,526 votes (42.7 percent) in the final results of the elections to replace him on the cantonal government. He was followed by Urgese with 20,725 votes (36.1 percent). Atici therefore achieved 3801 votes more than the candidate from the conservative alliance, although the Greens put forward their own candidate.
As Jérôme Thiriet (Greens), who was far behind with 8396 (14.6 percent), wants to withdraw in favor of Atici in the second round of voting, there will be a duel between the SP and FDP candidates.
Urgese successful in Riehen and Bettingen
While Atici was clearly ahead in the first round of voting in the city of Basel with almost 45%, Urgese came first in the two rural municipalities. He received more than 51% of the vote in Riehen and as much as 61% in Bettingen.
Voter turnout in the cantonal elections was just under 55.45%. In Riehen, which also had to vote on two municipal proposals, the turnout was even higher at 62%.
Atici no longer wants the chairmanship
Atici only wants to run for the government seat in the second round of voting and no longer for the presidency. This is also an opportunity for him to focus on the Department of Education, which appeals to him most as an education politician, he told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
He had expected a good result as he had been able to count on a "great support committee from culture, sport and business". He also wanted to congratulate the Greens, who had mobilized their voter base well - now they wanted to go into a second round of voting "united".
Thiriet considers candidacy in the fall
Jérôme Thiriet spoke of a "respectable" result in view of the initial situation. He now wants to "put all resources into supporting" Atici in the second round of voting.
He told Keystone-SDA that he was very interested in running for the cantonal government again in the cantonal elections. After all, he had learned a lot during this election campaign. However, he still has to think about a possible candidacy in the fall and discuss it with the party.
"I am very satisfied with the result," Luca Urgese told Keystone-SDA. After all, you have to bear in mind that there were several factors on this election Sunday that favored the left, such as the federal proposal for a 13th AHV pension, Urgese noted. In April, there will be a different starting position, which makes him confident.
Cramer is as good as elected
The incumbent Education Director Cramer received 26,908 votes (48.8 percent) in the by-election for the presidency of the government. This puts him 8078 votes ahead of Atici, but he missed the absolute majority by 651 votes. He will therefore also have to contest a second ballot.
However, this is now merely a formality: as Atici is no longer running for this office, only Eric Weber, the far-right councillor with no chance, who won votes in 2006, is likely to remain in the race. The voter turnout here was 54.45 percent.
"I didn't expect such a good result," Cramer told Keystone-SDA. The good result now gives him extreme "momentum" for the second round of elections together with Urgese in the civic alliance. With Cramer's almost certain election, the presidency will be in the hands of the conservatives for the first time.
The by-elections were due after former Basel government president Beat Jans (SP) was elected to the Federal Council in December 2023. The SP now wants to defend its third seat in the Basel government with Atici. The FDP wants Urgese to return to the government after its last councillor, Baschi Dürr, was voted out of office in 2020.
The Liberals will receive support from the LDP, the Center Party and the SVP, while the Left, which was still divided in the first round of voting, will now pull together again.
©Keystone/SDA
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