(kus) On 9. June, Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann conferred the honorary citizenship of the city of Frankfurt am Main on his predecessor in office, former Lord Mayor Petra Roth.
Honorary citizenship for life is the highest honor the city has to bestow. After Trude Simonsohn, the former mayor is the second woman to receive this honor.
After Petra Roth had signed the city's Golden Book, there was a ceremony for invited guests in the Paulskirche. Mayor Peter Feldmann, who had nominated his predecessor for honorary citizenship, welcomed the guests, while political scientist and publicist Professor Alfred Grosser delivered the laudatory speech.
"Petra Roth stands out in particular for her sustained and extraordinary commitment to our city of Frankfurt, even after her term in office. It is an asset for us that she continues to work for Frankfurt in an honorary and civic capacity to this day and hopefully also in the future," said Peter Feldmann of his proposal, which was approved by the Magistrate and City Council in March of this year.
Petra Roth, born in Bremen, has lived in Frankfurt am Main since 1964. Her political involvement began in 1972 as head of the social district, and she was a member of the city council, the Hessian state parliament and the state sports association. From 1995 to 2012, she steered the city's fortunes as Lord Mayor and was also President of the German Association of Cities for many years. Petra Roth actively promoted and supported the new path of Frankfurt's drug policy, the understanding of a multicultural Frankfurt and the acceptance of different lifestyles of the people of a large city.
"Even during her time in office, Petra Roth left a deep mark," says Peter Feldmann. "With her stance on a clear foundation of values, she always questioned apparent certainties, demonstrating courage and foresight."
Beyond her time in office, Petra Roth has continued to champion the city and its citizens, including as a board member of the Hertie Foundation, the Commerzbank Cultural Foundation and the German National Foundation. Peter Feldmann: "Her civic commitment continues to shape Frankfurt's future to this day."
