CNN
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A Syrian who came Germany Won mayoral election in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg as a refugee in 2015.
Ryan Alshebal, who left his hometown of As Suwayda in Syria eight years ago, ran as an independent in the municipality of Ostelsheim. He won 55.41% of the vote on Sunday, beating two German candidates Marco Strauss and Matthias Fey.
Locals cheered the 29-year-old as he hailed his victory, a victory he described as “sensational”, German local broadcaster SWR reported on Monday.
“Today, Ostelsheim sent an example of broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism to all of Germany,” he said, according to German public broadcaster ZDF. “It’s not something that can be taken for granted in a conservative, rural area.”
Alshebal’s first call after his victory was to his mother in Syria, who was thrilled with the news, SWR reported.
The Association of Municipalities of Baden-Württemberg said Alshebal is the first person with Syrian roots to run for and win the mayoralty. He will begin his role in June.
Residents of Ostelsheim welcomed their incoming mayor. “The fairy tale came true, and the right man became our mayor,” Annette Keck, who lives in the village, told SWR.
Strauss, one of his opponents, congratulated Alchebl. “I wish you luck and at the same time ask for Mr. Alschäble’s support for our shared Ostelsheim,” he said on Facebook.
State Integration Minister Manne Lucha said that Alchebl’s victory showed that diversity is a natural part of Baden-Württemberg. “I would be very happy if the election of Ryan Alchebl encourages more people with a history of immigration to run for political office.”
Not everyone was so hot at 29 years old. The ZDF reported receiving hostile comments from Syria on the campaign trail.
The young politician went door-to-door promoting his electoral program and “the experiences were mainly positive,” but there was also a minority of far-right voters in Ostelsheim who did not want to accept him because of his Syrian roots, Alshebl told ZDF.
Alshebal, born to a Syrian schoolteacher and agricultural engineer, described his life as carefree until the age of 20, according to his campaign website.
During that time, protests against the Syrian government that began in 2011 soon turned into chaotic warfare. The war and the subsequent rise of ISIS have forced 10.6 million people from their homes By the end of 2015 – About half of Syria’s pre-war population.
Alshebal faced the dilemma of being drafted for military service with the Syrian army or leaving the country, according to his website.
While many Syrians were internally displaced or fled to countries in the region, others like Alshebal made the perilous journey to Europe. He was 21 at the time, and said he crossed from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos in a rubber dinghy.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel implemented a brief open-door policy in 2015 that saw the country take in around 1.2 million asylum seekers over the following years, including Alchevel.
This move caused a reaction in Germany and Sudden increase The far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the wake of summer 2015.
Once in Germany, Alschäble lived near Ostelsheim and said at the time that he felt “there’s only one thing you can do: quickly get back on your feet and quickly start investing in your future.”
For the past seven years, he has worked in the administration of Althengstädt Town Hall, a neighboring town. He drew from his experience, he said in his campaign, and made digital access to public administration services one of the priorities. Flexible childcare and climate protection are also on her agenda.
Alschebl, who is a member of the Green Party and now holds German citizenship, promised during his campaign that he would move to Ostelsheim once elected mayor.
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