Months-long sick leave: Baden-Baden city hall boss Späth applies for incapacity for work

The mayor of Baden-Baden, Dietmar Späth (independent), has applied for incapacity for work. The procedure is currently being examined by the responsible regional council in Karlsruhe, said Späth’s lawyer, Gerhard M. Bräuer. SWR has previously reported.

Späth, who has been on sick leave since August and according to the city of Baden-Baden, until November 23, is undergoing medical treatment for serious mental and physical illnesses. This is currently done on an outpatient basis, Bräuer said. “A further phase of inpatient therapy is planned for early next year.”

A previous drunken accident occurred

It recently emerged that the city hall boss caused an accident while drunk while on sick leave. Bräuer said his client would take full responsibility for this.

According to police, a voluntary breath alcohol test showed a level of approximately 1.5 per mille. Späth’s lawyer said that, according to the latest information, his client was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. According to police, the exact damage could not initially be calculated.

According to police reports and the prosecutor’s office, the 62-year-old man drove to a central island near Rastatt last Wednesday while turning onto a district road. There he crashed his car into a traffic light. No one was hurt. “Badische Neuesten Nachrichten” previously reported this.

The hostility had a detrimental effect on Späth

Späth had told SWR in early August that he had experienced massive insults and hostility over the past few months, especially on social media. His family was also the target of public hostility and even death threats were received at city hall.