There is speculation these days as to whether Frankfurt's Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) could resign because of the charges in the AWO affair.

This might be the easiest way to prevent further damage to the city.

On the other hand, a deselection, initiated by the city parliament and confirmed by the Frankfurt voters, would be a comparatively high hurdle.

Mechthild Harting

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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However, many point out that the mayor, who was elected twice by the Frankfurt population, would have to accept significant cuts in his pension entitlements in the event of a resignation - which could prevent Feldmann from taking such a step.

The losses for him would actually be great if he applied for his immediate release from the civil service.

But there is another way open to the mayor.

Learned from the Love Parade

In 2011, a paragraph was added to the Hessian Municipal Code that allows for “retirement upon application for special reasons”.

As the Ministry of the Interior reports, this regulation was created with a view to the case of the former Mayor of Duisburg, Adolf Sauerland (CDU).

Sauerland had rejected demands for his resignation after the Love Parade accident in 2010 on the grounds that he would then lose pension entitlements.

According to the Hessian Association of Cities, the new paragraph 76a makes it possible for directly elected mayors or mayors to "flight forward".

A town hall chief can then apply for retirement of his own accord if, according to the Hessian Municipal Code, "the trust required for further office management is no longer placed in him".

The electoral officer can make use of this rule if he has served eight years in office and is at least 50 years old.

Feldmann, who was born in October 1958 and was elected mayor for the first time in 2012, fulfills both requirements.

If he chose to retire - he would have to submit a written application to the head of the city council - he would still need the approval of the city parliament.

A majority of two-thirds of the 93 city councilors is required.

After that, the magistrate, as the supreme service authority, could retire Feldmann by written decree.

But what would this cost him?

Experts state that Feldmann, whose term of office normally ends in spring 2024, would have to forego monthly earnings for the remaining period.

In addition, there would be minor deductions of two percent per year on his retirement benefits: A "clear loss", according to the experts.

The pension, it is said, should be in the range of more than 50 percent of the current gross salary of around 130,000 euros per year.