The city of Mannheim must publish a controversial article by the nonpartisan city councilor Julien Ferrat, known as “Die Mannheimer,” in connection with a swingers party. The Baden-Württemberg Administrative Court of Justice, according to reports on Thursday, rejected a complaint by Mannheim’s mayor Christian Specht (CDU) against the decision. In the article, Ferrat criticizes the city for not publishing two contributions about a possible sex party at City Hall.
Ferrat had previously submitted the contributions “Swinger Party in City Hall Planned” and “Swinger Party in City Hall?” The city did not publish them. In response, Ferrat wrote the article titled “Censorship in Mannheim’s Official Journal.”
Court: The Article Does Not Contain Any False Statements
The Karlsruhe Administrative Court initially ordered the city to publish it. Specht then appealed to the Baden-Württemberg Administrative Court of Justice. The court has now decided that the text must appear in the next issue of the Official Journal dated October 15.
It’s not about whether the article is fair or serious or politically meaningful, the court explained. It also isn’t important whether the council should allow the city hall to be used for a sex party or whether the allegations of censorship are justified.
What must be checked is whether the article asserts something false, which is not the case. It concerns a municipal matter, and the city council has a legitimate interest in weighing in promptly.
Ferrat: “Today is a Good Day for Democracy”
Ferrat commented on the decision: “Today is a good day for democracy.” Despite lacking authorization, he had already hosted a swingers party at Mannheim’s City Hall at the end of August. The city council plans to levy an administrative fine against the municipal politician. Ferrat auctioned off the sex-party paraphernalia on eBay to benefit AIDS relief charities. (AFP)
