Mayor Späth will remain ill until the end of November – the city is worried!

Mayor Späth will remain ill until the end of November – the city is worried!

The mayor of Baden-Baden, Dietmar Späth, will remain on sick leave until the end of November. The independent politician has had health problems since August, which were apparently exacerbated by persistent personal insults and hostility, particularly on social networks. How tagesschau.de reports, Späth's return is uncertain and has already depended on his health in the past few weeks.

The city administration said that day-to-day official business will continue smoothly during his absence, with the mayors taking over. The First Mayor Alexander Wieland is currently responsible for official business, but is also taking care of his own departments, which doesn't make the situation any easier. He receives support from the mayors Roland Kaiser (Greens) and Tobias Krammerbauer.

Stressful circumstances

The reasons for Späth’s time out are dramatic. In recent months, the mayor has not only been exposed to public criticism, but has also had to face massive personal hostility. The climate in local council meetings and social media is acrimonious, with often insulting undertones that are also directed against his family. Death threats are not uncommon, reports swr.de.

In particular, the public debate about his clothing style and his preference for sports cars became the target of hostility. Späth is also active in a lawsuit against a woman who insulted him on Facebook. His clinical picture is the result of this stressful world of experience, which he describes as “new and deeply affecting”.

An alarming phenomenon

Hostility against local officials is increasing nationwide. How bpb.de states, 64% of those holding office in Germany have already experienced hostility. The rates are particularly alarmingly high in large cities; in Dresden, for example, it is 88%. Violence and threats are part of everyday life for many political officials, often with massive psychological consequences.

This development shows how deeply social crises penetrate local politics and put mayors and local councils under pressure. After his recovery, Späth will also have to face the challenges that will arise from the city's current financial problems and the elimination of the office of social mayor. It remains to be hoped that he will recover quickly so that he can support the city in its difficult situation.