Overview
- Francisco dos Santos, who disclosed the move Monday through her law firm, stepped aside after reports said she campaigned while on long‑term sick leave.
- Her withdrawal covers only the district mayor race and she remains a candidate for the Mitte district assembly in September.
- Local and state SPD leaders distanced themselves from her, saying she had not been transparent about her sick leave and that keeping her as the nominee was not responsible.
- She rejects wrongdoing, citing a medical certificate that said her voluntary political work did not hinder recovery and describing the coverage as a media campaign against her.
- The SPD in Berlin‑Mitte must quickly name a new nominee, in a case that has exposed internal rifts in the Berlin SPD as the party trails the CDU in some polls.