Uta Francisco dos Santos officially withdrew her candidacy for the position of district mayor in Berlin-Mitte on Monday, April 13, 2026. The decision follows intense internal pressure from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) regarding her conduct during a period of medical leave.
The announcement was made through a law firm representing the politician, as reported by Spiegel. While she has stepped back from the mayoral race, Francisco dos Santos reportedly intends to maintain her candidacy for the district assembly (BVV) in the upcoming September elections.
The controversy intensified after reports surfaced that Francisco dos Santos engaged in campaign activities despite being on official sick leave. This led to a public distancing by the SPD district association in Berlin-Mitte and calls for her resignation to avoid chaos within the party leadership.
In a statement, Francisco dos Santos attributed her withdrawal to a “media campaign” directed at her person. She cited the need to protect her family and herself as the primary reason for stepping down from the high-profile race.
Previously, her legal counsel stated that although she had been on sick leave for an extended period, a medical certificate confirmed that her honorary activities, including her candidacy, did not hinder her recovery process from a psychological illness.
Steffen Krach, the SPD’s top candidate for the Berlin House of Representatives, joined the executive board in demanding her withdrawal. “I agree with the executive district board that Uta Francisco dos Santos can no longer run for the office of district mayor,” Krach stated.
The SPD leadership criticized the candidate for a lack of transparency regarding her health status and unresolved questions. According to reports from Tagesspiegel, the power struggle was initially expected to reach a showdown during a board meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Morgenpost reported that the SPD state association had already deemed her continued candidacy irresponsible. Critics pointed out that while it is possible to perform some tasks while ill, seeking a top executive position while unfit for a primary job damaged public trust in political integrity.
The party must now move quickly to nominate a replacement candidate for the mayoral office. Berlin is scheduled to hold elections for the state parliament and district assemblies on September 20, 2026.
