The corruption trial against Frankfurt Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) in front of the Frankfurt Regional Court began on Tuesday with the reading of the indictment. The public prosecutor’s office accuses the head of the town hall of having obtained advantages for himself and his wife through his office. The process is connected to the so-called Awo scandal involving former leading officials of the social association Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo) in the city.
At Awo, Feldmann’s wife received an employment contract that was significantly higher than usual for a young professional, the public prosecutor said. The prosecutors spoke of a tacit agreement that in return Feldmann would “behave benevolently towards the Awo Frankfurt” in his mayoral office.
According to the prosecution, Feldmann’s wife, as head of an Awo day-care center, had received a salary in excess of the collective bargaining agreement “without any objective reason”. According to the public prosecutor’s office, Awo also supported Feldmann in the 2018 election campaign by raising donations. In return, he wanted to “benevolently consider” the interests of Awo Frankfurt. Feldmann had repeatedly stated that he hoped the allegations against him would be clarified. He is firmly convinced that he can prove his innocence in court.
In addition, Feldmann is being voted out by the city council. The Frankfurt coalition parties (Greens, SPD, FDP, Volt) and the largest opposition party, the CDU, are currently campaigning in a joint campaign to have Feldmann voted out.
