In January 2023 he will apply to end his term of office, writes the controversial SPD politician. He is suspected of corruption.
The mayor of Frankfurt, who has come under heavy criticism, announces his retirement – in six months. In a “personal statement” by Peter Feldmann, he will apply in January to end his term of office at the end of the month. the city released on Tuesday. “I would like to save the city of Frankfurt an agonizing and expensive vote-out procedure – and take the opportunity to bring my official business to a proper conclusion after more than ten years.”
In this statement, Feldmann continues: “This step was very difficult for me.” He loves his job. “I never wanted the office for its own sake, but to shape it.”
Feldmann is controversial, even his own party, the SPD, has called for his resignation. He is facing a court case on suspicion of corruption. In the 2018 election campaign, the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo) is said to have supported him by raising donations. In return, he wanted to “benevolently consider” the interests of the social association, according to the prosecutor’s indictment. Before that, he is said to have found his partner at the time a job as head of an Awo daycare center, where she was paid well above the standard rate.
The OB has denied the allegations. He has so far refused immediate resignation – in this case he would lose pension entitlements. In addition to the allegations of corruption, Feldmann was recently criticized for a sexist comment about flight attendants and an embarrassing appearance after Frankfurt Eintracht’s Europa League victory. A month ago, the Frankfurt city parliament withdrew its confidence with a large majority and decided to initiate a vote-out procedure.
In his statement, Feldmann appealed to all those responsible in the city and to the citizens to get back to each other and to leave “the well-trodden path of assigning blame and personalized accusations”.