Landrat Gernot Schmidt of Märkisch-Oderland has declared the first round of the Strausberg mayoral election, held on February 15, invalid due to suspected irregularities in postal voting. Schmidt filed a criminal complaint against an unknown person, alleging manipulation by candidate Patrick Hübner, who received 22.5% of votes. The accusation stems from Hübner's business, a roastery, housing Strausberg's postbox where postal ballots were received. Schmidt noted an "exceptionally large proportion" of unreturned ballots: only 2,835 of over 4,000 issued were returned, a 30% deficit. The runoff election, scheduled for March 15, has been halted. Hübner denies the allegations, stating the postbox location was long known.