Peter Feldmann: Public prosecutors bring charges against the mayor of Frankfurt am Main

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Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD): He rejects the allegations

Photo: rheinmainfoto / IMAGO

The Lord Mayor of Frankfurt am Main, Peter Feldmann (SPD), may have to answer in court for taking advantage of his position.

He is said to have got his wife an overpaid job and a company car with the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo).

As SPIEGEL learned from legal circles, the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office has drafted an indictment against Feldmann and sent it to the mayor's attorney.

The public prosecutor's office did not comment on this when asked by SPIEGEL.

The Frankfurt district court, which would have to examine and accept the charges before a court hearing, also declined to comment.

The Hessian broadcaster reported first.

The allegations against Feldmann were made in November 2019.

Feldmann is said to have given his partner at the time, Zübeyde Temizel, a job as a daycare manager at Awo in Frankfurt am Main and helped her to collect a significantly higher salary than usual.

Temizel started working there in 2015 and received a gross salary of 4,300 euros, which daycare center managers normally only achieve after 17 years of work.

In addition, Feldmann is said to have contributed to Temizel getting a company car that she could use privately at any time - even in non-working phases when raising children.

The couple married in 2016. The two are now separated again.

In return, Feldmann is said to have campaigned, among other things, for Awo to do business with refugee accommodation in Frankfurt am Main.

According to the Frankfurt city administration, the operation of two accommodations by the Awo subsequently led to considerable irregularities at the expense of the taxpayer.

Feldmann had good connections to Awo - until 2012 he worked at a foundation that belongs to Awo.

He was supposed to take care of the occupancy management of the elderly care there.

The position was set up especially for him and was no longer filled after his election as mayor.

Feldmann's lawyer David Hofferbert told SPIEGEL that he has not yet received any indictment against the mayor.

Apparently, the investigative authorities are concerned with "public prejudice" against the mayor, he said.

The allegations of the public prosecutor's office relate exclusively to vague evidence and would be rejected by his client.

Awo scandal goes beyond Feldmann and his wife

The Awo in Frankfurt am Main and Wiesbaden is deeply involved in scandals about excessive salaries, fees and other benefits for former board members and officials.

Charges have been brought against several former leaders of the association on suspicion of breach of trust and fraud.

Feldmann says he did not stand up for his partner at the time and later wife, but that she got the job because of her qualifications.

He also did not work for the Awo in accommodating refugees.

The public prosecutor's office has been investigating Feldmann and his wife since March last year.

The Frankfurt city council has already called for Feldmann to resign.

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