Erfurt: Settlement after theater scandal – Klepp-Pallas back in office!

Erfurt: Settlement after theater scandal – Klepp-Pallas back in office!

Things continue to be turbulent in Erfurt after the theater scandal. In a non-public meeting, the city council approved an agreement with Angela Klepp-Pallas, who was released following an abuse of power scandal. This reports daily news. The agreement, which was reached at the beginning of 2025, stipulates that Klepp-Pallas will receive a severance payment in the mid-five-figure range and will take up a new position as investment manager in the city administration. There she will manage and monitor municipal companies in the future, although with a lower salary compared to her previous position as second works manager at the Erfurt Theater.

Klepp-Pallas had made allegations of abuse of power public in the past and was subsequently terminated. She agreed to her dismissal, knowing full well that public pressure was very high following the scandals surrounding the theater. In this context, the Erfurt Theater recorded a loss of almost four million euros in 2023. Mary-Ellen Witzmann, the former equal opportunities officer, also played a central role: she brought the allegations of abuse to light in autumn 2023 and was dismissed without notice shortly afterwards, which in turn led to a legal dispute that was ended with a settlement in April 2025.

The path to clarity

The situation surrounding Guy Montavon, the general director of the Erfurt Theater, remains particularly explosive. How Time Reportedly, he was also placed on temporary leave. The basis is an investigation report from a Berlin law firm that uncovers alleged sexual assaults and abuse of power at the theater. However, specific details about the allegations are not yet known. City councilor Niklas Waßmann (CDU) described the leave of absence as overdue and complained that it should have taken place much earlier. Montavon and Klepp-Pallas will not be on duty until the next City Council meeting on Feb. 7.

The city of Erfurt has also commissioned auditors to investigate the theater's financial affairs over the past few years. Missing quarterly reports and a significant deficit were found here. The situation is particularly exciting for the equal opportunities officer, as her termination without notice could potentially have far-reaching consequences for comparable positions in the future. Katrin Brüninghold and Tina Morgenroth, members of the city council, have criticized the unequal treatment of Witzmann and Montavon and emphasized that the city should show more gratitude for the courage shown to denounce the injustices in the theater.

Prospects for change

The city of Erfurt is faced with the challenge of setting the cultural, political and financial course for the future. Montavon has filed a lawsuit seeking 800,000 euros in compensation. However, the city is skeptical about its negotiation offers and wants to present significantly less. The Federal Labor Court will decide whether the Erfurt Regional Court or the State Labor Court is responsible, which could further increase the uncertainty in this already tense situation.

The coming months will be crucial as to whether the Erfurt Theater can recover from the shadows of past events and how the new structures aimed at violence and abuse of power will work in practice. One thing is certain: the city has a lot to do to regain trust in its cultural institutions.