Justice involved: Prosecutor's office is checking allegations of harassment against Palmer

Tübingen's Oberbürgermeister Boris Palmer has stepped down as a bureaucracy adviser to the Baden-Württemberg state government amid allegations of sexual harassment. The 54-year-old denied the accusations in a statement, calling them "unfounded." Palmer stated that the accusations targeted his "private life" and that he would pursue legal action against them.

The accusations first emerged in the "Bild" newspaper and later resurfaced on an Instagram account linked to a former Tübingen city councilor. The Deutsche Presse-Agentur attempted to contact the woman but was unsuccessful. In his statement, Palmer emphasized that he would not tolerate the accusations and was considering legal steps.

Palmer announced that he would suspend his role as an honorary adviser for state modernization and administrative simplification until the allegations were investigated. The Minister-President, Cem Özdemir (Green), had requested Palmer to step down from his position. Palmer, who began his political career as a state legislator and served as Tübingen's city administrator since 2007, had previously been considered a potential successor to former Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann (Green) before leaving the party in 2023 due to several scandals.

Within the Green Party, Palmer is often seen as a red card, regarded as a potential successor by many. He is known for taking a firm stance on sensitive issues, which has made him one of the most popular politicians in the state and a frequent guest on talk shows. Palmer has even expressed interest in returning to the Green Party, with both Özdemir and former Minister-President Kretschmann signaling their willingness to welcome him back.

The two have a long-standing personal relationship, with Özdemir recently praising Palmer as a friend.