Local Governments - The mayoral election in Alpirsbach is heading to the courts for resolution.
The newly elected mayor of Alpirsbach is filing a lawsuit against the Landratsamt of Freudenstadt, which declared the election results null and void due to what they claim was voter deception regarding a supposed suspension of the mayor, Sven Christmann. Patrick Heinemann, Christmann's attorney, shared this info with the German Press Agency on Thursday.
The Landratsamt announced on Wednesday that they had prohibited Christmann from performing his duties as a police officer, but a suspension is just a temporary halt, and this wasn't what happened to him. Heinemann states that Christmann's denials of a suspension, such as on Instagram, were "factually correct."
Investigation of possible voter fraud
Christmann won around 56% of the votes in the town's elections with 6,000 residents, while incumbent Michael Pfaff received around 44%. The Landratsamt is probing the election since three objections were lodged.
On November 23, the office declared that Christmann was formally prohibited from carrying out his duties under § 39 BeamtStG (suspension) even before the mayoral election proceedings commenced. Christmann's comments on his Instagram page concerning the suspension were deemed by the office as actively deceiving voters, which significantly impacted the course of the election. They thus announced the results invalid and called for a do-over.
Indictment decision still pending
The backdrop to these events is an investigation into potential bribery concerning the procurement of driers for the police. The Landgericht Karlsruhe hasn't yet decided, as per a spokesperson on Thursday, if they would proceed with a case based on an indictment from the Pforzheim Public Prosecutor's Office, dating back to November 2022.
Christmann had this to say on his website: "I have not denied being part of an investigative process alongside others." The following day, news emerged: "Some now expect me to make public, falsely, accusations against myself, even though I know I'm innocent."
Christmann's personal website Preliminary election results Runoff election Current status of the investigation
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- The Administrative Court in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, will hear the lawsuit filed by the newly elected mayor of Alpirsbach against the Municipality of Freudenstadt's District Office.
- The German Press Agency reported that Patrick Heinemann, Christmann's attorney, accused the District Office of using the suspension of Christmann as mayor incorrectly during the election campaign.
- Despite the Municipalities' probe into potential voter fraud in the mayoral election, Christmann maintains his victory with around 56% of the votes in the town with 6,000 residents.
- The Landratsamt argued that Christmann's comments on Instagram about his supposed suspension before the election, which were factually correct, misled voters and contributed to his eventual win.
- The run-off election in Alpirsbach will not take place as planned, as the court's ruling on the validity of the initial election results remains in limbo.
- The German Press Agency further reported that Christmann's personal website stated he had not denied being part of an investigative process, but some expected him to make false accusations against himself despite his innocence.
- In other news, the Police in Freudenstadt continue their investigation into potential bribery related to the procurement of driers for the local police force, with the Pforzheim Public Prosecutor's Office still deliberating on an indictment.
- The Mayor of a neighboring municipality, Freudenstadt, is currently under scrutiny and his political future remains uncertain due to the ongoing legal battle and ongoing police investigation.
