New Police Ombudsperson Takes Over in Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate's Ombudsperson Steps Down After Eight Transformative Years

Rhineland-Palatinate's Citizen's Advocate Barbara Schleicher-Rothmund Officially Steps Down; Martin Haller Sworn In as Successor

Barbara Schleicher-Rothmund, the outgoing Citizen's Advocate and Police Ombudsperson for Rhineland-Palatinate, was formally honored in a farewell ceremony at the state parliament today. Her successor, Martin Haller, was simultaneously inaugurated and will assume the eight-year post on April 29, 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, Landtag President Hendrik Hering expressed his gratitude to Schleicher-Rothmund for her passionate dedication over the past eight years. "You were never a distant figurehead—you were always an approachable advocate for the people," he said. "Together with your team, you addressed some 18,000 inquiries during your term. You sought—and found—fair solutions, defused conflicts early on, and helped restore trust in government action." Hering emphasized that the office serves as a vital link between society and the state, adding that in an era when public trust in institutions cannot be taken for granted, its role in safeguarding democracy has grown increasingly important.

Turning to Haller, the Landtag president extended his best wishes for the challenging and responsible task ahead. As a long-serving member of parliament and parliamentary manager, Haller brings deep insight into citizens' concerns and extensive experience in administrative matters. Known for his solution-oriented, responsible, and mediating approach, Haller earned cross-party respect as chair of the investigative committee on the 2021 flood disaster, Hering noted. His commitment to justice, dialogue, and transparency makes him particularly well-suited for the role.

"Listen, Care, Inform"

State Premier Alexander Schweitzer praised Schleicher-Rothmund as the first woman to hold the office in Rhineland-Palatinate, calling her tenure deeply personal and principled. "'Listen, care, inform'—these were the guiding values she embodied with remarkable dedication," he said. "The Citizen's Advocate is intentionally designed to be accessible, and she took that literally. She was always open and approachable to everyone. A translator by profession, she turned it into her calling: conveying citizens' concerns to authorities and translating bureaucratic responses into plain language. Above all, she delivered tangible help."

Schweitzer thanked her warmly for her lasting impact on the state and wished her all the best in her next chapter. "The people of Rhineland-Palatinate can rest assured: an outstanding advocate is being succeeded by another," he said. "Martin Haller possesses the essential qualities for this role—empathy and diplomatic finesse. I wish him every success and a steady hand in his new position."

Heiner Illing, chair of the Petitions Committee, added: "Barbara Schleicher-Rothmund shaped the office with extraordinary commitment, professional expertise, and above all, humanity. Our collaboration in the Petitions Committee was always built on trust, reliability, and a shared mission: giving the people of our state a voice and finding fair resolutions. I sincerely thank her for her tireless efforts and look forward to working with Martin Haller, whom I hold in high regard both professionally and personally."

Reflecting on her time in office, Schleicher-Rothmund noted two defining challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ahr Valley floods. "These crises underscored how crucial support in navigating bureaucracy can be," she said. "Together, we built bridges, ensured transparent crisis management, and made sure those affected were heard."

Haller: "Trust in Government Is Built in Everyday Life"

In his opening remarks, the newly appointed Public Advocate Martin Haller emphasized: "Trust in the state is not built solely through major political debates. It is forged in everyday life—where people experience whether they are truly heard, whether procedures are clear, and whether government actions remain transparent and understandable to them." If doubts arise at this level, he warned, public skepticism toward the state would grow and harden.

The concerns brought to the Public Advocate strike at the heart of what sustains democracy in daily life, Haller noted. "I do not want to act as an adversary to the administration, nor as a political authority," he stressed. "Instead, I aim to help people make sense of things—to clarify when procedures seem incomprehensible, to mediate where communication has broken down, and to publicly highlight recurring problems."

His priorities, he said, include engaging closely with people's everyday experiences, raising greater awareness of the Public Advocate's role, and making government processes more accessible and understandable.