A historic day unfolded in Kiel, the capital of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Dr. Samet Yılmaz, elected mayor in the December 7th elections, was sworn in at a ceremony held in the city hall. Yılmaz, the first immigrant mayor in Kiel’s history, officially began his duties after taking the oath of office before City Council President Bettina Aust. Following the ceremony, attended by numerous guests from politics, public administration, and various sectors of society, Yılmaz spent approximately 1.5 hours at a reception, receiving congratulations and personally interacting with each guest. The 44-year-old Yılmaz, who officially began his term today, will serve for six years. Yılmaz emphasizes “new beginnings” and “joint governance.”
It is estimated that the Turkish-origin population living in the city is around 20,000.