Frankfurt's mayor, Peter Feldmann (SPD), who has been accused of corruption, intends to officially hand in his announced resignation next week.
Feldmann said on Friday that he was resigning from office at the end of January.
"You're mayor completely or not at all," he said, emphasizing how much he "loves the job."
He took stock for a few minutes and wrote of the socio-political successes that he had contributed to, relieving low-income families by waiving day-care center fees and free entry to public baths or the zoo.
However, the city councilors of Hesse's largest city still have to approve the application for retirement under Section 76a of the Hessian Municipal Code (HGO) for special reasons.
Only then is he legally secure.
When this will be was initially unclear.
The simultaneous deselection procedure, which is currently being carried out against the 63-year-old, is independent of the application.
Trial on October 18
Feldmann announced his retirement 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.
I will hand over an orderly house,” he explained.
A trial against Feldmann begins on October 18 at the Frankfurt Regional Court.
He is accused of taking advantage.
Feldmann was first elected mayor in 2012 and was confirmed in office for a further six years in 2018.
He claimed that he "didn't even calculate" how he would be financially situated in the future and emphasized that he was firmly convinced that he was not corrupt and guilty as charged.