A 29-year-old man has become mayor of village in Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany after winning 55.41% of the votes.
Ryan Cub, 29, who He fled from Syria in 2015, she stood as a non-party candidate to become mayor of Austelsheim in The country located in southwestern Germany of Baden-Wurttemberg.
in private Life, however, is a member of Green party.
describes his experiences in The election campaign Mostly positive.
At the age of of 21 years old, Cub ran away from his hometown of As-Suwayda in the South of Syria. It was working now in Administration of Althengstett Town Hall nearby for Seven years. As Mayor Cub now plans to move to Ostelsheim in interrupt of Calo said.
Maybe the cub is him first Syrian mayor in Southwest of Germany. According to the association of municipalities of Baden-Württemberg, there was no other candidate with Syrian roots for mayor office Until now.
In the elections, the cub won against then on-party Candidates Marco Strauss and Matthias Fay.
Rayan Al Shibl fled war-torn Syria in 2015, is coming on Greek island of Lesbos after a harrowing four hour journey on rubber boat.
“It was dark and cold and there wasn’t one light to look at her on Lesbos,” he recalls.
“Few hours We were earlier in Ordinary Mediterranean city in turkey. the environment has turned with Cold and dark, f of Of course, feelings of Fear it with This trip.”
The cub, who was barely 21 years old, was in the midst of a huge wave of refugees who receipt in Europe that year.
after landing in Greece, is made for him way Via macedonia, serbia and croatia by public transportation and on foot, it takes 12 days in total to get to Germany.
Finally finished up In a refugee center in Althengstett, a rural area region near the black forest.
In shared housing, where you can’t expect more From a bed and a roof and some food, for Which you’re still thankful for, you can just do it one Thing: get back on Get your feet fast and invest fast in by yourself future,” He said.
Cub soon I learned to speak German fluently – “if you are in the countryside You have no other choice” – and trained as an Administrative Assistant at Althengstett City Council.
he earned German nationality in 2022 is a prerequisite for anyone who wants to stand up in local elections in Germany.
‘take responsibilty’
Now 29, he’ll take up for him post as mayor of Ostelsheim, a village near Althengstett, in June.
thought it first Syrian from the wave of refugees who receipt in Germany in 2015-16 to be elected to a politician post.
was the cub joined with four friends on his trip to Europe. But he left behind for him parents And one brotheralthough a second brother king already Move to Germany on a student Visa.
he told him experience of Fleeing from Syria and having to “bear responsibility not only for (myself) but also for the environmenthe gave it drive to enter into politics.
“Takes on This responsibility at such an age, you learn a lot. Of course, it creates a new person, a new He said.
he also member of Greens “because the climate protection very important” to him.
NFL is all more Remarkable given that the village of Austelsheim of 2700 peopletraditionally conservative community.
located between a group of Hills and the village is surrounded by rolling fields lined on either side with Dry stone walls and hedges.
The far-right alternative for Germany party mock anger over the flow of Asylum seekers in 2015-16 to win votes And finally enter parliament for the first time.
openness
But Al-Shibl said he has not personally seen far-right extremism.
Cub thinks it was elected Because he listened to people’s concerns – from childcare to digitization issues.
He admits he doesn’t really feel “anything” on hear he was won The election in March because he was “overwhelmed”.
But congratulations also poured in in who about worldhad become clear it him story It was ‘bigger than a municipal election in a small community. “
Cub thought that fact win against Two other local candidates who I slept up in the area says Much about mentality of voters.
“that it sign that people You didn’t count the origin, but the qualifications. that it sign of open up to world,” He said.
Cub parentsa teacher and agricultural engineer who belongs to the Druze minority in Syria, but describes himself as non-religious.
He has “mixed feelings” about Syria, which he has not been able to visit since he lived in Germany.
“It’s the country where you were born and raised… You’re tall for the people I grew up up with,” He said.
“But I’m glad I got this chance to live here at all” while others have not.
