"Of course, you've all noticed what's being played out in the media." With these words, Marius Weiß (SPD), a member of the state parliament, addressed the delegates at a party congress in the Rheingau-Taunus district at the beginning of May. At the end of March, the F.A.Z. uncovered a bizarre affair.

The 48-year-old politician is said to have copied his parking sticker for the state parliament and left the forgery to his wife, who is also employed in parliament. In the meantime, the Social Democrat's statements sound like insight. White admits a "mistake" that he says he "deeply" regrets. The Criminal Code provides for a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine for forgery of documents. The investigations of the public prosecutor's office are ongoing, while the accused hopes for a mild outcome of the criminal proceedings.

Weiss has resigned from the office of chairman of the state parliament's committee of inquiry into the assassination attempt in Hanau. It would have been consistent to resign as a member of parliament as well. Or is a parliamentary mandate a function that can easily tolerate a higher level of criminal misconduct?

Half the resignation is the deputy's contribution to a compromise negotiated with the party. It consists in a demonstrative act of repentance. In return, Kaweh Masoori, the influential district chairman from southern Hesse, publicly backs the stumbled white.

He does not want to drop him and advocates giving him a place on the list at the party congress in mid-June, which will still enable him to enter the state parliament again in the next legislative period. "We know what he's done," says Masoori.

This raises further questions. Is it possible that the SPD is not equipped with enough expertise to be able to do without white? Incidentally, Masoori is currently doing the job of the party chairman of the SPD Hesse, Nancy Faeser. As a top candidate in the state elections, she does not want to let the unpleasant thing get to her.

But Masoori is also an accomplished politician with persuasive power. His mission could save White in the end. If the delegates were actually to put it up again, however, they would be putting a real burden on their campaign with knowledge and will. That would be an original, selfless form of social democratic solidarity.