Maximilian Bieri becomes the youngest mayor of Hanau

Hesse's youngest independent city now also has its youngest mayor: The 36-year-old social democrat Maximilian Bieri was ceremoniously inaugurated into his new office in Hanau on Monday evening. The youngest mayor of Hesse replaces the longest-serving: Claus Kaminsky (SPD), who steered the fortunes of the Hanau town hall for 23 years. Bieri officially takes office on Thursday.

In his inaugural speech, the 36-year-old recalled his motto “Togetherness,” with which he campaigned for votes in the local election campaign in March. He sees his office as a mediator between generations, between employees and employers and between people of all backgrounds, he said: “Together means building bridges.”

At the end of March, when he was still mayor, Bieri clearly prevailed against CDU city councilor Isabelle Hemsley. Hemsley will be the new mayor. In the city council, the coalition of SPD, CDU and FDP has a stable majority with well over 60 percent of the votes.

Bieri was born in Frankfurt. He grew up in the Steinheim district of Hanau. He studied mathematics in Frankfurt, received his doctorate in this subject and then worked as a software developer in Aschaffenburg. In 2019 he entered the Hanau city council, later became SPD parliamentary group leader and moved to the town hall as mayor in 2023.