31.03.2026
Volt starts the next election period with a team of five new city councillors with diverse perspectives
At Volt’s constituent faction meeting in the Römer, the 27-year-old dietician and advisor to the old faction, Tiara Mengel, was elected as faction chair. In addition to her experience from closely supporting the previous city councillors as a faction advisor, she also brings leadership experience from her role on the board of the aid organisation Europe Cares to the new office. The 22-year-old Kalbach native Tim Englert was elected as her deputy. As a student of human geography, he has also worked as an advisor for the Volt faction since 2023.
Thus, the new faction leadership already brings several years of experience from the Römer with them. Tiara Mengel was previously responsible for diversity and social affairs, among other things; Tim Englert was able to distinguish himself in thematic areas such as mobility and smart city.
“We thank the Frankfurt voters and our faction for their trust. With a faction increased from four to five city councillors, we enter the exploratory talks strengthened. Our aim is to contribute a good mix of fresh perspective and experience. The future Frankfurt city government cannot afford stagnation or regression – instead, realistic and forward-looking agreements are needed with a view to more than just the next election. Before our city and society lie five decisive years in which Frankfurt must move into the future. This includes an appropriate response to the climate crisis just as much as consistent digitalisation of the administration, the creation of affordable, liveable housing, the promotion of inclusive and contemporary mobility, as well as evidence-based poverty reduction and equality. Our aim is a city that works and is there for its citizens,” state Tiara Mengel and Tim Englert.
Overall, the new faction consists of five newly elected city councillors; Eileen O’Sullivan will – as already announced during the election campaign – continue her office as department head [Dezernentin] and will not accept the mandate in the city council. Nina Adam, who was voted up to sixth place on the Volt list, will succeed her.
About Tiara Mengel
Tiara Mengel, 27, is a dietician and lives in the Gutleutviertel. During the past 2021-2026 legislative period, she worked as an advisor for Volt in the Römer, in the three committees “Social Affairs and Health”, “Diversity, Cohesion, Participation and Europe”, as well as “Economy, Law and Women”. Alongside her career, she is studying for a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition and Human Rights Studies. At the same time, she is the chair of the aid organisation Europe Cares, which supports people on the move. These perspectives flow into her daily work in order to approach issues in an evidence-based, practical, and solution-oriented manner.
About Tim Englert
Tim Englert, 22, grew up with two siblings in Kalbach and lives today in the Nordend. Since 2023, he has been studying Human Geography at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. Tim has been a member of Volt since 2020 and has already taken on responsibility in various roles, including in the Local Lead Team. Since December 2023, he has worked for the Volt faction in the Römer as an advisor for social media and the Committee for Mobility and Smart City. He was politicised primarily through solidarity with refugees and the climate crisis.
About Philipp Winghart
Philipp Winghart, 36, is a medical journalist from Bornheim. As a doctor at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry and at the Hamburg Albertinen Hospital, he learned what really matters: listening, understanding the problem, and then making the right decisions. Since 2021, as a medical editor, he has headed the largest medical specialist podcast in the German-speaking world. His political priorities: strong healthcare for all, protecting the climate, and creating cultural spaces that make democracy tangible.
About Grit Winkler
Grit Winkler, 48, is a civil servant in the financial sector and lives with her son in her new home, Frankfurt am Main. Twenty-four years ago, she faced the choice of moving from Thuringia to Frankfurt or Munich. She chose the heart of Europe. From the change she has experienced in the city, her commitment to citizen participation and transparent democratic processes has grown. Frankfurt is a positive example of a diverse city, whether with its Wasserhäuschen (traditional kiosks), its various branches of industry, or the roughly 180 languages and nations represented. During her time as a Frankfurt Local Lead, her love for local politics awakened. In recent years, she has also been involved in cross-party initiatives, such as in Fechenheim, to strengthen democracy and exchange with citizens.
About Nina Adam
Nina Adam, 35, was born in Hanau and came to Frankfurt in 2009, where she studied teacher training and linguistics. She immediately fell in love with the diversity and cosmopolitanism of the metropolis – also through her years as a city guide. The linguist, who holds a PhD, worked at various German universities in research and teaching. She joined Volt in 2023 and co-founded the Main-Kinzig-Wetterau regional team, which she subsequently co-led. Since autumn 2024, she has been the managing director of the Volt faction in Darmstadt. The thematic areas of social justice, sustainable mobility, and transparent politics are particularly close to her heart.
