His recent statements have caused quite a stir.
Now the Mayor of Tübingen, Boris Palmer, is announcing a break and wants to get help.
He regrets the impression his comments gave.
Tübingen – The mayor of Tübingen, Boris Palmer, wants to take a break after his controversial statements in Frankfurt am Main.
He announced this on Monday in a personal statement that the dpa has received.
Südwestrundfunk (SWR) had previously reported on it.
Palmer apologized to the people "I've let down" and stressed that as mayor he "never should have talked like that."
"I'm incredibly sorry" that he gave the impression that he was relativizing the Holocaust.
Palmer caused a stir on Friday with a verbal argument with a group in front of a migration conference in Frankfurt am Main.
In front of a building at the Goethe University, he had taken a stand on the way in which he used the "N-word".
When faced with shouts of "Nazis out," Palmer told the crowd, "It's nothing but the Star of David.
That's because I used a word that you attach everything else to.
If you say a wrong word, you are a Nazi.
Think about it.” Today, the so-called N-word is used to paraphrase a racist term for black people that used to be used in Germany.
In his personal statement, Palmer, whose membership in the Green Party is currently suspended, wrote: "One thing is clear to me: this cannot go on." in the city administration, the municipal council and the city society as a whole." During his time off, he wanted to take advantage of "professional help" in order to gain better self-control.
"When I feel unfairly attacked and react spontaneously, I defend myself in a way that only makes things worse."
Palmer had been heavily criticized for his statements in Frankfurt.
There was a lack of understanding not only among those involved in the city, but also among close colleagues.
Lawyer Rezzo Schlauch turned away from Palmer, the Tübingen Greens city association, like the federal party, distanced themselves.
Palmer's attorney hose announced: "Immediately after learning about the scandal for which Boris Palmer is responsible in Frankfurt, I gave him my personal and my political loyalty and support as well as my legal representation."
Hose, who used to be politically active for the Greens himself, explained further: "No provocation, no matter how harsh, no insults and insults, no matter how vile, of radical left-wing provocateurs justified establishing a historical parallel to the Jewish star as a symbol of the persecution of the Jews in Nazi Germany.
There is nothing left to explain, defend or apologize for.” Tubing had legally represented Palmer in party order proceedings against him and also supported him in the election campaign in Tübingen.
The Green City Association of Tübingen condemned "the repeated use of the N-word and the unacceptable comparison with the Jewish star" by Palmer.
"We regret that many people were again injured by statements by Boris Palmer." The federal director of the Greens, Emily Büning, said on Twitter with reference to Palmer's dormant membership that this step was "not without reason".
"Boris Palmer's recent low point can't stand still."
Palmer had already spoken before the personal statement and confirmed to the dpa that the statements in Frankfurt had been made that way.
He explained to the protesters that Nazis had smeared the graves of his ancestors with swastikas and replied that "their method of ostracism and exclusion is no different from the Jewish star".
The politician also confirmed the persecution of his Jewish ancestors by the Nazis.
His family was just able to evade the Star of David by fleeing.
"My father Helmut was called Moses at school and was sentenced to prison several times after the war for calling Nazis Nazis," Palmer wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
In the post-war period, Helmut Palmer was active, among other things, as a civil rights activist and known as the “Remstal rebel” for his provocative appearance.
Boris Palmer had also stated that he said the "N-word" because he did not accept language rules.
"I only use it when there's a discussion about whether using it is already a racist.
For me, the context decides that.”
Both Hesse's Justice Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) and the President of Goethe University, Enrico Schleiff, had previously condemned the statements.
At the conference “Managing Migration, Shaping Plurality.
Challenges of immigration policy in Germany”.
Back in May 2021, Palmer used the so-called N-word in a Facebook post about former soccer player Dennis Aogo, who has a Nigerian father.
This had triggered massive criticism from his Green party colleagues at the time.
A party expulsion process ended a year ago with the compromise that Palmer would suspend his party membership until the end of 2023.
In October 2022 he ran in Tübingen as an independent candidate and was re-elected for a third term in the first ballot with an absolute majority.
Palmer has been mayor of the Swabian university town since 2007.
With pointed statements, for example on refugee policy, he repeatedly caused controversy and was exposed to accusations of racism.
His management during the corona pandemic and his municipal environmental policy also brought nationwide attention and recognition.
dpa