Just one day after his announced resignation, the Frankfurt district court allowed the corruption lawsuit against the incumbent Lord Mayor Feldmann to go to trial. So far, six days of negotiations have been scheduled.
The district court in Frankfurt am Main has admitted the corruption charge against the controversial Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann to the main hearing. Feldmann has to answer for the accusation of accepting benefits from October 18th, as the court announced. Six days of negotiations were scheduled. Feldmann had already announced his retirement from the mayor's office for early 2023 on Tuesday.
"I would like to save the city of Frankfurt an agonizing and expensive voting procedure - and take the opportunity to bring my official business to a proper conclusion after more than ten years. I will hand over an orderly house," he explained. Feldmann was first elected mayor of the largest city in Hesse in 2012 and was confirmed in office for a further six years in 2018.
The 63-year-old has been charged in connection with the affair about the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) and had also failed in the past few weeks due to other slips. Recently, even Feldmann's own party, the SPD, called for his resignation. In March, the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office brought charges based on reasonable suspicion of accepting an advantage.
Feldmann's wife, as the head of an AWO daycare center, is said to have received a salary that was higher than the collective bargaining agreement "without any objective reason". In addition, the Arbeiterwohlfahrt supported Feldmann in the 2018 election campaign by raising donations. In return, he wanted to "benevolently consider" the interests of AWO Frankfurt. At the end of May, the district court in Frankfurt approved the indictment, so Feldmann has to go to court. He denies the allegations.
Most recently, the mayor shook his head several times. A video with a sexist saying by Feldmann appeared. In addition, the mayor had caused irritation at the celebration of Eintracht Frankfurt's European Cup victory in the Römer, among other things, when he took the trophy out of the hands of Eintracht captain Sebastian Rode and coach Oliver Glasner in order to advance towards the Kaisersaal, which many considered judged selfish and complacent.
Feldmann himself regretted his appearance at the party, and he also apologized for his saying on the plane. Meanwhile, the Bundesliga club let Feldmann know that the mayor is no longer welcome in the stadium.
