Mayor Katrin Haben Schaden from the Greens is completely unexpectedly leaving politics and moving to a position at Deutsche Bahn in Berlin. “Today I informed the mayor that I will be resigning from the office of second mayor of the state capital of Munich as well as my city council mandate as soon as possible,” she wrote in a written statement. This decision was “very difficult” for her. She filled the office with great enthusiasm and subordinated everything to the task for three and a half years.
The Green Party’s parliamentary group says goodbye to Haben Schaden with warm words. “Katrin Haben Schaden has made lasting contributions to Green politics in Munich in recent years. “She played a major role in the 2020 election success and the associated increase in importance of the Green parliamentary group,” said parliamentary group leader Mona Fuchs. She was instrumental in “initiating urgently needed reforms for climate protection and the mobility transition and maintaining Munich’s face as a cosmopolitan metropolis.”
Co-boss Dominik Krause also showed sadness and understanding at the same time. “We will miss working with her, but of course respect her decision to pay more attention to her health and to take up a new job in which she is not constantly exposed to the public eye.”
At first glance, the two group leaders are the two potential successors for the city leadership position. What could speak in Krause’s favor is that he has also been a member of the city council since 2014 and, as a parliamentary group leader, has more experience than Fuchs. This could then take even greater responsibility for the group’s policies. The next top candidate for the office of mayor is now open again. It was a foregone conclusion in the party that Haben Schaden should make a second attempt.
Damage to assets indicates that political activity has taken a toll on her. “In the past few months I have noticed that the strain of my public role has left its mark,” she writes. Obviously it was a matter of substance. Filling the office at half capacity was not an option for her, the statement continues. The Green politician has been a member of the city council since 2014. Six years later she ran for mayor, but narrowly missed the runoff election against Dieter Reiter (SPD). At the beginning of the term of office, the two Greens, a very popular politician, was elected second mayor.
At Deutsche Bahn, she will be responsible for the environment and sustainability department
Mayor Reiter expressed respect and regret over the withdrawal of Haben Schaden. She informed him in a personal conversation on Wednesday. “I would like to thank you for the long-standing, always constructive and trusting cooperation. In her years as second mayor, Ms. Haben Schaden was very committed to the interests of the people of Munich.” He wishes her the very best for the future.
Haben Schaden has already planned her future outside of politics. At the end of this year, she will take over and manage the environment and sustainability department at Deutsche Bahn. “Designing the ecological transformation of the railway is a challenge that I am very much looking forward to. The new task is far less high-profile, but offers a great opportunity to advance environmental and climate protection as well as the mobility transition throughout Germany.”
Deutsche Bahn confirmed the obligation of Schadens on Wednesday afternoon. “With Katrin Haben Schaden, we as DB are gaining an experienced and enthusiastic sustainability expert,” CEO Richard Lutz was quoted as saying. Through her professional career, Haben Schaden has experience with transformation processes, which she can now bring to the railway. In her new role, Haben Schaden will report directly to Lutz, the railway said in a statement. The group’s board of directors had already confirmed the commitment at a meeting on Tuesday.