"The Free Voters and 'The Party' in Mainz city council unite to form a new collective entity, now referred to as 'The Group'."

New Faction "Die FRAKTION" Formed in Mainz City Council

In a historic move, two city councilors from different parties have joined forces to form a new faction in the Mainz City Council. Erwin Stufler, who remains from the Free Voters, and Daniela Zaun, an independent city councilor from the satirical party "The Party," have come together to create "Die FRAKTION."

The alliance was sealed on the Mainz Wine Market, a symbolic location that inspired the formation of the new faction. The meeting, which brought together these two councilors, marked a significant moment in the political landscape of Mainz.

Daniela Zaun, known for her knowledgeable and pointed questions, has been a city councilor for an unspecified number of years. She is also the Bundestag candidate for "The Party" in Mainz, who famously pledged to resign her mandate "when the wine is gone."

Erwin Stufler, on the other hand, lost his faction status in the Mainz city council when his second city councilor, Mario Müller, unexpectedly resigned on August 31, 2025. With the formation of "Die FRAKTION," Stufler regains his faction status.

The new faction has committee seats and access to the Elders' Council, but the committees in the Mainz City Council will still need to be newly elected due to the changed numerical ratios between the factions.

The shared goal of questioning existing structures and making pragmatic politics for the citizens brought the two city councils together. Erwin Stufler and Daniela Zaun believe that their election programs have many similarities and complement each other well.

"The Party," the satirical party that aims to draw attention to real political shortcomings and political entanglements, has made appearances in Mainz. Martin Erhardt, the OB candidate in an unspecified election, made a strong impression in the 2019 OB election campaign.

Martin Müller, the former city councilor of the Free Voters, joined the CDU faction on September 1, 2025. This type of cross-party factional cooperation between "Die PARTEI" and the "Free Voters" also exists in other cities.

Notably, Martin Sonneborn, the founder of "The Party," has been a member of the European Parliament since 2014. The Bundestag candidate of "The Party," which formed a new faction with the Free Voters in Mainz, is Karl Müller, and he was elected in 2023.

"Die FRAKTION" has an office and organizational support in the Mainz City Hall, and they aim to achieve more for the citizens of Mainz by having a faction office in the town hall. With this new faction, Mainz City Council is set to witness a more vibrant and engaging political discourse.