Overview

• Michael Piazolo, Bavaria’s former state minister of education and cultural affairs, was officially endorsed by Freie Wähler on July 6 for Munich’s 2026 mayoral contest.
• His entry joins incumbent SPD mayor Dieter Reiter, CSU nominee Clemens Baumgärtner and Green Mayor Dominik Krause on the ballot.
• Piazolo has represented Munich South in the Bavarian state parliament since 2008 and previously served on Munich’s city council.
• He has vowed to inject new momentum into core areas of security, transport, education and social services across the city.
• Voters will elect Munich’s mayor and city council on March 8, 2026, with coalition outcomes pivotal for future governance.