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Scandal in Löhnberg: Ex-mayor is said to have wrongly collected 65,000 euros!
Former mayor Frank Schmidt from Löhnberg is under fire for infidelity and improper bonuses. The community is demanding compensation.
Scandal in Löhnberg: Ex-mayor is said to have wrongly collected 65,000 euros!
What's going on in the tranquil community of Löhnberg? Former mayor Frank Schmidt (SPD) is facing serious allegations. He is accused, among other things, of receiving illegal performance bonuses and salary bonuses amounting to around 65,000 euros. Schmidt has vehemently rejected these allegations, but the situation is getting worse. The local council said loudly daily news decided to claim this amount back as compensation. An explosive topic in a community that is known as a “bankrupt community” and looks back on better times when free daycare and low property taxes were still a given.
The air is often thin in local politics. Frank Schmidt, who is said to have received performance-related bonuses totaling around 13,500 euros from 2016 to 2023, has only increased the community's financial problems through his activities. The municipality had to file for insolvency for the Löhnberg real estate company (LGG) in December 2024 because the financial possibilities for a future were no longer available.
House searches and suspicion of infidelity
The situation escalated further when the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office began investigating Schmidt at the end of 2024. On this occasion there were massive searches in the town hall and in Schmidt's home. According to media reports, the suspicion of infidelity is increasing because Schmidt is said to have released LGG invoices without carrying out the necessary checks. This could have significant legal consequences, such as Giessener Anzeiger reported.
The municipality itself received information from the regional council that incorrect information had been transmitted about its auditable annual financial statements. As a result, some important documents from the town hall were reported missing, further complicating the situation.
Financial difficulties and responsibility
Despite the serious allegations, Schmidt's role as mayor should not be underestimated. He led Löhnberg for 16 years and was also a member of the Bundestag for the SPD. After the financial problems were revealed, he was on sick leave for several months until he ultimately took early retirement. However, during his term in office, he has had some benefits approved, including the use of a Volvo hybrid SUV, the cost of which was borne by the municipality. The payroll taxes incurred due to the use of company cars were also borne by the municipality.
The new incumbents, under the leadership of Mayor Reiner Greve, are now faced with the difficult task of rescuing the municipality from this financial crisis. Greve has publicly stated that the municipality considers claims for damages against Schmidt to be realistic and is also considering further action in the form of a criminal complaint.
Finally, it remains to be said that the current constellation is also being discussed a lot beyond the borders of Löhnburg. The case is an example of the challenges facing local political offices in Germany, as described in the article Bavarian state newspaper is illuminated. While citizens' trust in local politics is being tested, those responsible in Löhnberg hope that a positive turnaround will soon take place. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. Will there actually be repayment or will Schmidt be able to prove his innocence?