The city councilor of the left-wing faction in the Wiesbaden city hall, who has been criticized for sexism allegations and has not yet been named, defends himself against allegations that are circulating mainly in social networks.

"There was never any abuse of power, sexual harassment or even violence against people, which is why I successfully took legal action against such allegations," wrote the city councilor in a statement published on Monday.

Oliver Bock

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Rheingau-Taunus district and for Wiesbaden.

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Nevertheless, it is also "about the political and moral assessments" that he has to face.

"I am a feminist at heart," he said in his statement.

He deeply regrets if his behavior was perceived as inappropriate.

The city councilor announces that he will support the work of an external and independent trust group set up by the state party.

Like all officials, he will also take part in training courses on sexist behavior and toxic masculinity.

He is ready to admit mistakes and apologize: "As part of a patriarchal society, I am not free from mistakes, even if I am not always aware of them." He supports all efforts of the district association, the city group,

Anti-sexist training courses for elected officials and party employees

A supplementary statement by the Wiesbaden Left Party states that the reporting of possible sexual assaults caused horror in the parliamentary group and in the district executive.

The behavior described in the reports has no place in the Left Party: "We strongly condemn any misogyny behavior and exploitation of positions of power." Because the reporting and the reactions suggested that the party had "a problem with sexist behavior and sexual assaults". , there is the political task of “making something like this impossible.” A “professional review commission” is announced.

The party is looking for external, unbiased support, and: "The accused person on the district executive board will rest their position until further notice."

The district board regularly announces recurring and mandatory anti-sexist training courses for elected officials and party employees.

Accused persons would have to go into a “political quarantine” after the incidents became known.

This could result in a temporary exclusion from meetings, campaigns and events.

The left "will be a feminist party or it will not be."

The interruption of the coalition negotiations in Wiesbaden have the understanding of the district board and the parliamentary group.

Nevertheless, the Left is sticking to the goal of coalition building.

Work is being done to create conditions that will allow the coalition talks to continue to a successful conclusion.

So far there have been no charges or investigations by the public prosecutor against members of the town hall faction.

For the parliamentary group of the Free Voters, the allegations against a parliamentary group member of the left complete the "disastrous picture of city politics".

With regard to the number of investigations by public prosecutors against full-time and honorary politicians and appointed managing directors of the state capital, Wiesbaden is probably the front runner in Germany.

The Free Voters suspect a “structural problem”: There is obviously so much dirt involved here that this top position will probably be maintained for a very long time.”