Alert Issued for Dortmund: Be Aware of Potential Dangers
In the aftermath of the Communal Elections of 2025 in Dortmund, where SPD and CDU advanced to the runoff, a significant legal action has been initiated. Sports journalist Heiko Wasser, a vocal supporter of independent candidate Martin Cremer, has taken Mayor Thomas Westphal to court over allegations made by the mayor.
On September 18, 2025, Westphal described statements from Cremer's supporters as "right-wing extremist." However, Heiko Wasser's attorney has confirmed that he has made no such statements in WhatsApp groups or on social media. In response to the allegations, Wasser has sent a cease and desist letter to Westphal via his attorney, demanding a public retraction and a penalty clause of 25,000 euros if Westphal repeats the allegations.
Despite being asked to substantiate the allegations with examples, Westphal has declined to do so. Heiko Wasser, on the other hand, has stated unequivocally, "I reject these allegations." As of the time of writing, there is no available information about who has commissioned Wasser's attorney with the delivery of the instruction about the objection against Westphal or when the documents were handed over.
Mayor Westphal has chosen not to make any further statements regarding the allegations he made against Cremer's supporters. The paragraph does not provide any information about the nature of the relationship between Westphal and Heiko Wasser before the legal action was initiated. Westphal has also stated that everything has been said regarding the matter, and he continues to speak about Cremer and his supporters, but the specifics of these later statements are not provided.
In a speech, Westphal continued to refer to a "chapter that is finally over" in reference to the election, implying that the legal action initiated by Heiko Wasser may be a part of that chapter. As Cremer did not make it to the runoff, it seems that the election results may have played a role in Westphal's decision to speak out about the supporters.
The legal action initiated by Heiko Wasser is a significant development in the ongoing political landscape of Dortmund. As the case unfolds, more information about the allegations, the evidence, and the potential outcomes will likely come to light.
