Editing Cologne (section)

==Government and politics==
{{See also|Cologne City Hall}}
The city's administration is headed by the [[List of mayors of Cologne|mayor]] and the three deputy mayors.

===Political traditions and developments===
The long tradition of a free imperial city, which long dominated an exclusively Catholic population and the age-old conflict between the church and the bourgeoisie (and within it between the patricians and craftsmen) have created its own political climate in Cologne. Various interest groups often form networks beyond party boundaries. The resulting web of relationships, with political, economic, and cultural links with each other in a system of mutual favours, obligations and dependencies, is called the 'Cologne coterie'. This has often led to an unusual proportional distribution in the city government and degenerated at times into corruption: in 1999, a "waste scandal" over kickbacks and illegal campaign contributions came to light, which led not only to the imprisonment of the entrepreneur Hellmut Trienekens, but also to the downfall of almost the entire leadership of the ruling Social Democrats.

===Mayor===
[[File:2020 Cologne mayoral election (2nd round).svg|thumb|350px|Results of the second round of the 2020 mayoral election]]
The incumbent [[List of mayors of Cologne|Lord Mayor of Cologne]] is [[Henriette Reker]]. She received 52.66% of the vote at the municipal election on 17 October 2015, running as an [[Independent politician|independent]] with the support of the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]], [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]], and [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Greens]]. She took office on 15 December 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/OB2015/05315000/html5/Oberbuergermeisterwahl_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html|title = Oberbürgermeisterwahl – Wahl des/der Oberbürgermeisters/in 2015 in der Stadt Köln – Gesamtergebnis|access-date = 18 October 2015|website = stadt-koeln.de|language = de|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151020160002/http://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/OB2015/05315000/html5/Oberbuergermeisterwahl_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html|archive-date = 20 October 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Reker was re-elected to a second term in a runoff election on 27 September 2020, in which she received 59.27% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2020/05315000/html5/Buergermeisterstichwahl_NRW_46_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html|title = Stichwahl der Oberbürgermeisterin / des Oberbürgermeisters – Kommunalwahlen 2020 in der Stadt Köln – Gesamtergebnis|access-date = 24 January 2021|df = dmy-all|language = de|archive-date = 25 November 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201125171544/https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2020/05315000/html5/Buergermeisterstichwahl_NRW_46_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| [[Henriette Reker]]
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]] ([[Alliance 90/The Greens|Green]]/[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]])
| 187,389
| 45.1
| 174,263
| 59.3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Andreas Kossiski
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| 111,353
| 26.8
| 119,753
| 40.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| Jörg Detjen
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]
| 29,810
| 7.2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Europa}}| 
| align=left| Olivier Fuchs
| align=left| [[Volt Europa#Germany|Volt Germany]]
| 18,520
| 4.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| Christer Cremer
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]]
| 17,441
| 4.2
|-
| 
| align=left| Nicolin Gabrysch
| align=left| Climate Friends
| 14,370
| 3.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Roberto Campione
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 14,122
| 3.4
|-
| 
| align=left| Thor Zimmermann
| align=left| Good Cologne
| 8,613
| 2.1
|-
| 
| align=left| Dagmar Langel
| align=left| We Are Cologne
| 4,464
| 1.1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Robert Nussholz
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 4,044
| 1.0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Sabine Neumeyer
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 2,547
| 0.6
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Ecological Democratic Party}}| 
| align=left| Rüdiger-René Keune
| align=left| [[Ecological Democratic Party]]
| 2,336
| 0.6
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Martin Przybylski
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 924
| 0.2
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 415,933
! 98.7
! 294,016
! 99.1
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 5,633
! 1.3
! 2,727
! 0.9
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 421,566
! 100.0
! 296,743
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 820,527
! 51.4
! 818,731
! 36.2
|-
| colspan=7| Source: City of Cologne ([https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2020/05315000/html5/Buergermeisterwahl_NRW_44_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html 1st round] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419062359/https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2020/05315000/html5/Buergermeisterwahl_NRW_44_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html |date=19 April 2021 }}, [https://www.stadt-koeln.de/wahlen/kommunalwahl/09-2020/Buergermeisterstichwahl_NRW_46_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html 2nd round])
|}

===City council===
[[File:2020 Cologne City Council election - Results.svg|thumb|350px|Results of the 2020 city council election]]
The Cologne city council (''Kölner Stadtrat'') governs the city alongside the Mayor. It serves a term of five years.<ref name="Election 1">{{cite web|title=Wahlperiode|url=http://www.stadt-koeln.de/1/wahlen/abisz/03612/|access-date=15 April 2011|publisher=City of Cologne|language=de|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615182240/http://www.stadt-koeln.de/1/wahlen/abisz/03612/|url-status=live}}</ref> The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! colspan=2| Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| 118,997
| 28.5
| {{increase}} 9.0
| 26
| {{increase}} 8
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| 90,040
| 21.6
| {{decrease}} 7.8
| 19
| {{decrease}} 7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| 89,659
| 21.5
| {{decrease}} 5.7
| 19
| {{decrease}} 6
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke)
| 27,044
| 6.5
| {{decrease}} 0.4
| 6
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 21,965
| 5.3
| {{increase}} 0.2
| 5
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Europa}}| 
| align=left| [[Volt Germany]] (Volt)
| 20,783
| 5.0
| New
| 4
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 18,272
| 4.4
| {{increase}} 0.8
| 4
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]] (PARTEI)
| 10,261
| 2.5
| {{increase}} 2.4
| 2
| {{increase}} 2
|-
| 
| align=left| Climate Friends (Klima Freunde)
| 8,383
| 2.0
| {{steady}} 0.0
| 2
| ±0
|-
| 
| align=left| Good Cologne (GUT)
| 8,298
| 2.0
| {{decrease}} 0.6
| 2
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Voters}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Voters|Free Voters Cologne]] (FWK)
| 2,501
| 0.6
| {{decrease}} 0.2
| 1
| ±0
|-
| colspan=7 bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Ecological Democratic Party}}| 
| align=left| [[Ecological Democratic Party]] (ÖDP)
| 374
| 0.1
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| We Are Cologne 2020 (Wir Sind Köln)
| 265
| 0.1
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent A. Krause
| 107
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Neumeyer
| 72
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Weber
| 72
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent R. Krause
| 71
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Schidlowsky
| 32
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Party of Progress (PdF)
| 31
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 417,227
! 98.9
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Invalid votes
! 4,596
! 1.1
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 421,823
! 100.0
! 
! 90
! ±0
|-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 820,526
! 51.4
! {{increase}} 1.8
! 
! 
|-
| colspan=7| Source: [https://www.stadt-koeln.de/wahlen/kommunalwahl/09-2020/Ratswahl_NRW_42_Gemeinde_Stadt_Koeln.html City of Cologne]
|}

===State Landtag===
[[File:2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election in Cologne - Stimmbezirke.svg|thumb|350px|Results of the [[2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election|2022 state election]] in Cologne]]
In the [[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia]], Cologne is divided among seven constituencies. After the [[2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election]], the composition and representation of each was as follows:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Constituency
! Area
! colspan=2| Party
! Member
|-
| 13 Köln I
| Rodenkirchen and part of Innenstadt
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Eileen Woestmann
|-
| 14 Köln II
| Lindenthal
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Frank Jablonski
|-
| 15 Köln III
| Ehrenfeld and part of Nippes
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Arndt Klocke
|-
| 16 Köln IV
| Chorweiler and most of Nippes
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| Lena Teschlade
|-
| 17 Köln V
| Porz and the east of Kalk
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
| Florian Braun
|-
| 18 Köln VI
| Most of Innenstadt and the west of Kalk
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Berivan Aymaz
|-
| 19 Köln VII
| Mülheim
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| Carolin Kirsch
|}

=== Federal parliament ===
In the [[Bundestag]], Cologne is divided among four constituencies. In the [[List of members of the 20th Bundestag|20th Bundestag]], elected [[2021 German federal election|26 September 2021]], the composition and representation of each was as follows:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Constituency
! Area
! colspan=2| Party
! Member
|-
| 93 [[Cologne I]]
| Porz, Kalk, and part of Innenstadt
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Sanae Abdi]]
|-
| 94 [[Cologne II]]
| Rodenkirchen, Lindenthal, and part of Innenstadt
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| [[Sven Lehmann]]
|-
| 95 [[Cologne III]]
| Ehrenfeld, Nippes, and Chorweiler
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Rolf Mützenich]]
|-
| 101 [[Leverkusen – Cologne IV]]
| Mülheim (and the city of [[Leverkusen]])
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Karl Lauterbach]]
|}