Overview
- Sönmez, who served in Hesse’s economy super-ministry, was dismissed from the civil service after Mansoori’s request Monday, with the state chancellery citing a loss of the trust needed for cooperation.
- A ministry employee alleged repeated unwanted touching by Sönmez at an internal Carnival party, and public broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk reported that an internal probe is still under way.
- Reports from regional media say prosecutors in Wiesbaden have opened an investigative proceeding into the allegation, and the outcome of both inquiries remains pending.
- Sönmez issued a statement denying sexual harassment and said he welcomes the investigations as a chance for correction and rehabilitation.
- The Greens escalated their criticism of Mansoori’s leadership, noting this is his second State Secretary to depart after Lamia Messari-Becker in 2024, and no replacement for Sönmez has been named.