There are now 1,000 postcards on which Frankfurters are calling for the resignation of the mayor.

1000 cards, all of which were circulated by a native of Frankfurt.

For the woman, who does not wish to be named, it is "intolerable" that Feldmann is still in office despite allegations of corruption.

For a good month she has been present in squares and at event locations, holding up her sign with the imprint "Resignation Feldmann now !!!" to express her displeasure with the behavior of the mayor.

Mechthild Harting

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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For almost as long now, the "woman with the sign", as she calls herself, has had citizens sign postcards on which the demand for resignation is also justified under the keyword "The measure is full".

It says: "A mayor who is suspected of corruption harms the city - whether convicted or not, guilty or innocent." Reference is also made to his "special role model function" as mayor, which Feldmann no longer does justice to.

acceptance of benefits in office

Recently, the woman and other people who signed the postcards have received a reply from the mayor himself.

"Thank you for the postcard," writes Peter Feldmann there.

"Allow me briefly to address some of the allegations made there." Feldmann understands "short" to mean a text that fills more than one DIN A4 page.

"It's true," he writes, "that I've been accused of taking advantage in office." That it doesn't matter whether he's convicted or not, guilty or innocent, "I see it fundamentally differently."

In a constitutional state, the presumption of innocence applies.

"And I'm convinced of my innocence." Feldmann continues to write about the demand for resignation: "For me, a resignation would definitely be an admission of guilt."

He will prove that in court.

The letter, on City of Frankfurt letterhead, goes on to apologize for his appearance at the European Cup reception on Römerberg, which was felt to be embarrassing in the city, and for his sexist remarks to flight attendants on the way to Seville.

And Feldmann adds in his letter that he was elected by the Frankfurters in 2018 to "advance important social issues".

He feels obliged to do that.

Finally, he praises those who took part in the signature campaign.

Local politics need discourse and debate.

"You also need the open word," writes the mayor.

"I would be delighted if you maintained this commitment and the open word, especially in view of the great challenges facing our hometown." Feldmann refers to the "aftermath of the pandemic and the Ukraine war".

The presumption of innocence

The "woman with the sign" does not want Feldmann's letter to go unanswered.

Especially since Feldmann did not respond to her comment that a mayor suspected of corruption is a shame for the city.

He only goes into the postscript added with a dash "- whether convicted or not, guilty or innocent".

Of course, "we live in a constitutional state and, from my point of view, the presumption of innocence applies," she wants to answer the head of the town hall.

But the approval of the indictment by the regional court has already led to negative headlines across Germany.

"This not only casts a bad light on you, but also on the city of Frankfurt," she continued in the reply letter that had not yet been sent.

In it she wants to appeal to Feldmann again: "Please do something good for our city and resign." .

In order to give this appeal more weight, the woman is calling for a rally on the Römerberg for the first time this Wednesday at 6 p.m.

An event that she registered with the regulatory office.

With ten to 15 participants, she estimates carefully planning.

If more came, she would of course be happy.