Uchte to Cologne: Torsten Burmester is running for mayor!

Uchte to Cologne: Torsten Burmester is running for mayor!

Torsten Burmester, a 62-year-old political professional and sports expert, is running as the SPD candidate for mayor of Cologne. Born on January 15, 1963 in Uchte, Lower Saxony, he moved to Remscheid with his parents when he was a toddler and has lived in Cologne for over 40 years, where he makes his home in the Rodenkirchen district. After studying sports science at the German Sports University in Cologne, Burmester began an impressive career in politics and sport, which led him to the Federal Chancellery. He had his first major appearance in the 1990s when he organized campaign appearances for Gerhard Schröder. He was the face of the German Olympic Sports Confederation until 2024, from which he was removed due to controversial events shortly before he announced his candidacy.

Burmester is no stranger to Cologne politics. His aim is to make administration more efficient and address the city's most pressing problems. According to his election manifesto, he wants to reduce high rents, improve unpunctual trains and push for faster decisions in administration. He also plans to speed up housing construction and keep public spaces cleaner.

Designing for a better quality of life

A central point of his agenda is the redesign of the Neumarkt, where Burmester would like to set up consumption rooms with social care based on the Zurich model level. However, open crack and heroin consumption should remain excluded. He is also committed to introducing a “city guard” to increase security in urban areas.

The motto of his election campaign, “Listen, decide, implement!”, reflects Burmester’s approach to bringing politics closer to the citizens again. “Cologne must do better and Cologne can do better,” is the core message, which also measures the support of his party. This is underlined by Claudia Walther, co-chair of the Cologne SPD, who emphasizes his commitment and appreciates Burmester's expertise in tackling the city's challenges.

Direct contact and proximity to citizens

What particularly sets him apart is his personal approach. Burmester is conducting his election campaign in the Cologne districts and relies on direct contact with citizens and local companies. Known for his eye-catching, colorful sneakers, he wants to be perceived not only as a politician, but also as a person. For the Cologne SPD, he is the ideal candidate for a fair, sustainable and livable future, which is why he was unanimously nominated over a year ago.

The local elections, in which Burmester would like to demonstrate all his skills, will take place on September 14th. With prominent support from SPD leader Lars Klingbeil and former Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, he is ready to work together with the people of Cologne on a new future path.

At a time marked by many crises, from an uncertain labor market to the aftermath of the pandemic, Burmester sees its role as encouraging more citizen participation and addressing people's concerns. A strong symbol of his vision is the commitment to education, social cohesion and improving economic conditions and security for all citizens.

With the election on the horizon, it is clear that Torsten Burmester is determined to lead Cologne on a new path and to actively involve people in shaping their city. Cologne has high expectations of this candidate, and Burmester's career to date shows that he has the necessary skills to meet this challenge.