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Baden-Baden without mayor: Späth retired due to illness, new elections are imminent!
Baden-Baden is facing new elections: Mayor Dietmar Späth will be unfit for office, election date is March 8, 2026. Financial crisis is shaping the city.
Baden-Baden without mayor: Späth retired due to illness, new elections are imminent!
In Baden-Baden the political landscape is on the verge of upheaval. The Karlsruhe regional council has approved Mayor Dietmar Späth's (independent) application for incapacity. His lawyer announced this on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Späth is forced into retirement for health reasons, without having to appeal the decision. His term of service ends on December 31, 2025. swr.de reports that a new election for the mayor of Baden-Baden is already in preparation.
A new election must take place within three months of the incapacity being determined. The local council will discuss the election date at its next meeting on December 15th. The city administration has proposed setting the election date for March 8, 2026, which would coincide with the state election. This could encourage broad voter participation, as many citizens decide both local and state politics on this day.
Financial crisis and representation regulations
Baden-Baden is still in a tense financial situation. The city administration is planning savings of 21 million euros, while at the same time borrowing of around 34 million euros is planned. In Dietmar Späth's absence, the deputy mayors take over his duties in order to maintain ongoing operations. baden-baden.de informed that the proposals for these measures will be discussed in detail in the coming meetings.
Dietmar Späth had been on sick leave since August 2025 and suffered from a serious mental and physical illness. According to confirmed reports, he also suffered personal setbacks while on sick leave, including an alcohol-related accident, which further fueled the discussion about his administration. rheinpfalz.de also addresses the public hostility towards Späth in connection with the city's financial difficulties.
While the new elections in Baden-Baden are now being planned, the question remains regarding future administration and the challenges that the incoming mayor will face. The city doesn't just need a capable successor; it also needs someone who can meet the challenges of financial stability and bring a breath of fresh air to the political landscape. Späth's term of office ends after a turbulent and difficult phase, and politicians in Baden-Baden are faced with the task of smoothing things over and looking positively into the future.