Jascha Rohr im Interview zur OB-Stichwahl 2026 in Oldenburg

Summary of the interview (Jascha Rohr, OB run-off 2026 in Oldenburg)

Status and campaign momentum

Rohr says the campaign is going well (“full throttle” with his team). He reports that late in the campaign citizens mostly come to congratulate him and confirm they voted, with fewer new questions than earlier phases. He believes supporters are ready for change, though the outcome remains uncertain.

Key issues citizens raise

• Stadium project (“still a hot topic”): Rohr calls the decision to build it wrong, but argues it should be implemented “as best as possible,” focusing on the business plan and numbers to make it succeed.
• Traffic and mobility: frequently mentioned as a concern.
• Public finances and service risk: people worry that major projects and construction burdens have overextended the city, potentially threatening key public services. Rohr frames Oldenburg as an “island” where many feel good, but wants fresh momentum and more future-oriented optimism.

How to govern with a fragmented city council

Rohr expects less stable majorities due to a fragmented council. He argues for:

• Cross-party cooperation
• Regular discussion formats
• Explicit rejection of “camp thinking”

He also states:

• The AfD is excluded from cooperation as a clear line in his approach.
• He presents himself as non-partisan, currently supported by three parties.

Role of the mayor / leadership style

Rohr sees himself primarily as an urban planner rather than a career politician. He emphasizes a modern, efficient administration that can implement decisions quickly.

He describes himself as a “craftsman” focused on planning and execution, highlighting over 20 years of experience in complex public-administration work and city projects. If elected, he plans to fully relinquish his current company role to avoid conflicts and focus on mayoral duties.

Participation model (“city workshops”)

Rohr strongly supports implementation-oriented citizen participation, not just collecting ideas. His described method:

• Fixed “city workshop” locations where administration and mayor are present
• Projects can be reviewed in parallel

He contrasts his approach with participation that stalls at discussion stages, arguing that implementation often fails when politics/mayor block or only partially realize citizen-developed concepts.

Rapid-fire policy positions

• Trees: plans to plant 10,000 additional trees; references current tree numbers (~70,000) and wants tree planning integrated into road/construction projects.
• Free Saturday bus rides: keep it permanently; possibly expand if finances allow.
• Fliegerhausstraße / Heidbrück area: protect Heidbrück; expects a possible lawsuit. He proposes not cutting trees until the legal situation is clearer, aiming for better solutions while ultimately respecting democratic decisions if none exist.

Finance strategy and budget constraints

Rohr argues that shaping outcomes requires an agile administration and a sustainable budget. He criticizes the stadium decision partly as a budget mistake compared with other needs (renovations and basic services).

Funding approach includes:

• Structural funding
• Examining municipal enterprises/holdings
• Reducing deficits via improved management (estimated 5–10% potential)

He proposes restructuring the administration instead of layoffs—using digitalization and AI to reduce bureaucracy and eventually lower staffing needs as demographics change.

He also states:

• No tax increases: no plans to raise property taxes or business taxes.
• Instead, he wants better economic conditions to increase revenues (including trade tax without raising the multiplier/leverage).

Housing policy: densification with a “garden city” identity

Both Rohr and his opponent aim to increase housing and density, but Rohr stresses fit with existing neighborhoods. He argues Oldenburg cannot expand land supply, so housing must come via:

• Building upwards / densification
• Ecologically sustainable construction, including serial/fast construction, green roofs/facades, and waste reduction

He supports social affordability measures, mentioning social quotas such as 30/50% (as described). On detached houses: he argues there is still room for single-family homes through plot and regeneration options, but new development should start dense and modern.

He also highlights a broader challenge: the gap between incomes and high rents, warning it can “break the neck of urban society.”

Housing affordability model (Vienna model / concept-based tenders)

Rohr praises the Vienna model—concept-based tendering with quality, sustainability, and social criteria—and says he wants to apply it locally to keep rents substantially lower than in some other German cities.

Transport and urban mobility framework

Rohr criticizes fragmented mobility governance (e.g., multiple zones such as 30/50 and mixed cycling infrastructure). His goal is a coordinated, multimodal system where traffic “flows” for all users.

He argues that speed limits (30 vs. 50) should be decided based on data, simulations, and test phases rather than ideology.

Other priorities include:

• Cycling: a real cycling system (not just partial bike lanes), with safer network-level continuity
• Wallring / one-way traffic: skeptical; favors data-driven experiments and simulations to avoid mistakes seen elsewhere
• Downtown accessibility: emphasizes that foot traffic depends mainly on accessibility and frequency, not only parking; free bus service is cited as a lever

Public safety and video surveillance

Rohr says he is already under video surveillance and views expansion as a careful, data-and-consensus issue. He would support surveillance only in hotspots with demonstrably high insecurity—while weighing data protection and personal rights.

He favors alternatives first:

• Prevention strategies
• More street work and police/public order presence
• Urban design improvements to make squares lively

He argues that lively places feel safer, while empty/inactive areas increase insecurity.

Rail and rail crossing priorities

Rohr emphasizes coordination with railway authorities, but argues the city should still set priorities.

• For Klingenbergstraße, he prefers crossings; tunnels are considered too expensive/complex due to protections and subsoil. He also wants local station access if implemented.
• He argues for additional local stations/platforms in the north and other directions, especially given risks of disruption from other bridge works (including issues around a bascule bridge).

He calls for a “community railway” approach: joint planning, renewed cooperation, and stronger accountability if railway investment responsibilities aren’t met. If problems persist, he suggests pressure should increase due to built-up frustration over years.

Homelessness concept (“Housing First”)

Rohr supports Housing First strongly and says it should be implemented quickly. He explains a local sticking point: emergency shelters come first, because many people cannot be placed directly into housing-linked support programs (he cites concerns from social work and station-area actors).

His sequence:

1. Provide dignified emergency accommodation
2. Move people into permanent housing using Housing First

Youth and creative spaces / participation beyond politics

Rohr supports more open, self-designed spaces for youth and maker/creative culture, emphasizing that spaces should not be overly sterile, but appropriately designed. He references the value of areas like “Creativity meets Technology.”

He proposes expanding availability of suitable city-center and district properties through partnerships with institutions such as:

• Community centers
• Youth centers
• Churches
• Sports clubs

Youth parliament

Rohr expects Oldenburg will likely establish a youth parliament and discusses how age limits and participation design might work. He stresses that the most important factor is effectiveness—young participants must feel their work leads to real outcomes.

He also proposes:

• Budget control for youth structures (e.g., district-decided youth projects)
• Potential pathways enabling direct proposals

He considers a more unified citywide structure that combines youth-related and advisory bodies, similar to senior/disability representation.

Night public transport

He welcomes the idea of enabling night access (e.g., getting off between regular stops), while noting legal/safety constraints.

If he wins the run-off: first 100 days agenda

Rohr wants to:

• Prepare for a new council quickly and avoid angry/misunderstood budgeting like last year
• Reshape budgeting by starting earlier with goals, priorities, and effectiveness

Early targets include:

• Cooperation with surrounding districts (described as “disastrous” recently)
• Regional thinking for transport, sustainability, and energy
• Meetings with city-center property owners/entrepreneurs/users to revitalize the pedestrian zone and make it vibrant again

---

Presenters / contributors

• Jascha Rohr (interviewee; candidate for mayor/OB run-off 2026)
• Interviewer / host (unnamed speaker in the subtitles)
• Other mentioned persons/entities: VW G (VWG) and Mr. Reehe (consultation on transport); no additional presenter names are given in the subtitles.