In Mainz city council, the Free Voters and "The Party" have merged and are now known as "The Group."

In the heart of Mainz, at the bustling wine market, two city councilors joined forces to create a new faction, "Die FRAKTION." The founding members, Erwin Stufler, the remaining city councilor of the Free Voters, and Daniela Zaun, an independent city councilor from the satirical party "Die Partei," aim to question existing structures and make pragmatic politics for the citizens.

The Free Voters and "Die Partei" have known each other for seven years, and their shared goals have led to the formation of this new faction. The election programs of the two parties have many similarities and complement each other well.

The Free Voters lost their faction status in the Mainz city council due to the surprise resignation of city councilor Mario Müller at the end of August. This resignation paved the way for the formation of "Die FRAKTION."

Stufler believes that "The Fraction" can do more for the citizens of Mainz than if they were just two independent city councilors. Zaun, a trained pharmacist and disabled pensioner, is known for being one of the most knowledgeable city councilors who regularly draws attention with pointed questions and requests.

The new faction has secured committee seats and access to the Elders' Council. They have also established an office and organizational support in the Mainz City Hall. However, the committees in the Mainz City Council will still need to be newly elected due to changes in numerical ratios between the factions.

It's worth noting that cross-party faction alliances between "Die PARTEI" and the "Free Voters" also exist in other cities. In the recent Bundestagswahlen, there was no information available about a Bundestag candidate for the party "Die Partei" in Mainz.

Martin Sonneborn, the founder and satirist of "Die Partei," has been a member of the European Parliament since 2014. In the 2019 Mainz OB election campaign, Martin Erhardt, the "Die Partei" OB candidate, made a significant impact.

Daniela Zaun, in her role as a Bundestag candidate, promoted a rotation model for overworked caregivers and a nationwide wine price brake with verifiable glass emptiness quota. She also promised to resign her mandate "when the wine runs out."

"Die FRAKTION" was officially announced on September 1, 2025. With this new faction, the Mainz city council is set for a shake-up, as "Die FRAKTION" seeks to challenge the status quo and work for the benefit of the city's citizens.