Ingolstadt's mayor is set to take on dual roles as speaker and Oktoberfest boss.

Local Government Bodies - Ingolstadt's mayor is set to take on dual roles as speaker and Oktoberfest boss.

The mayor of Ingolstadt, Christian Scharpf (SPD), is set to take on a new role as Munich's Economic Affairs Officer and Wiesnchef, following the will of the SPD party. Munich's Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) and the head of the SPD city council, Christian König, made the announcement on Tuesday. The Munich SPD faction and party board unanimously agreed to put Scharpf forward for the position, as stipulated in the coalition agreement. Reiter described Scharpf as an "absolute dream candidate."

The Munich city council is expected to appoint a new Economic Affairs Officer in October, who will take office on March 1, 2025. The current Economic Affairs Officer and Wiesnchef, Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU), will step down by the end of February. If Scharpf is chosen to succeed Baumgärtner, Ingolstadt will need to find a new mayor earlier than anticipated.

For Scharpf, the 52-year-old father of four who has been mayor of Ingolstadt since 2020, family reasons are his top priority. "I've loved serving as mayor of Ingolstadt, but the job comes at a cost," he explained. "I can only be with my wife and kids in Munich on weekends. What's the long-term perspective for our family?" Scharpf had initially decided not to run for re-election in Ingolstadt in 2026.

"If he's determined to go to Munich, I've got a great idea," Reiter suggested. "We have an intriguing position to fill, which I've held myself." Reiter was previously Economic Affairs Officer and Wiesnchef before becoming Munich's mayor - the position is considered a stepping stone. Neither Reiter nor Scharpf commented on the possibility of Scharpf becoming Munich's mayor after Reiter. Reiter stated his intention to run for re-election in 2026.

Scharpf, a lawyer, has worked in Munich's city hall, among other places, and once led the office of the former Munich mayor, Christian Ude (SPD). Since his election as Ingolstadt's mayor, Scharpf has been shifting between Ingolstadt and Munich. A picture of Christian Scharpf can be seen here.

Read also:

1. In the coalition agreement between the SPD and other parties in Bavaria, a role for a representative from a municipality was outlined, which led to Dieter Reiter proposing Christian Scharpf for the position.
2. With the support of the Munich SPD faction and party board, Christian Scharpf's name was put forward to replace Clemens Baumgärtner as the Economic Affairs Officer and Wiesnchef in Munich, starting March 1, 2025.
3. As the mayor of Ingolstadt, Scharpf has been balancing his responsibilities between the city and his family, prompting him to reconsider his decision to run for re-election in 2026.
4. The role of Munich's Economic Affairs Officer and Wiesnchef is considered a stepping stone in local politics, as demonstrated by Dieter Reiter's progression to becoming Munich's mayor after fulfilling this position.
5. If Ingolstadt needs to find a new mayor earlier than anticipated due to Scharpf's potential move to Munich, other capable individuals in the SPD party might be considered for the role, emphasizing the importance of stable leadership in local governments across Bavaria and Germany.

• Tough return to normality in snow and ice
• Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
• German national soccer team on their way to participate in the European Championship qualifying matches.
• The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.