An unusual plan that has caused a stir in Germany has been put forward by Mannheim city councilor Julien Fera. He wants to turn the city into a destination for nudists and sex-swapping couples. He even went so far as to propose holding sex parties in the city hall.
The 35-year-old politician, leader of the liberal movement "Die Mannheimer" claims that his goal is to break social taboos around non-monogamy and in the long term turn Mannheim into a "paradise for couples who exchange partners."
He says that about 50 people have already contacted him and expressed interest in participating. However, the plan is still a long way from being implemented, as he must first obtain the relevant permission from the city council.
"At the moment, I'm trying to find out which of those who have contacted me are really interested," Fera told The Telegraph. He said some are already part of the local community of couples who exchange partners, while he plans to meet others in person in the coming days.
"Breaking taboos"
Fera, who has earned the nickname "Germany's craziest city councilor," claims that his initiative also has a political character.
As he explained, he wants to reduce the social stigma against people who exchange partners on the one hand and promote a broader vision for Mannheim, inspired by the famous French resort of Cap d'Agde on the other.
"On the one hand, I want to make being a sex worker less taboo. On the other hand, I want to promote my vision of a nudist paradise for sex workers in Mannheim," he said.
Partner exchange is a consensual form of non-monogamous relationship, which has organized communities and special spaces in some European countries.
The Mannheim administration, so far, does not seem to share the city councilor's enthusiasm. A spokesman for the municipality told German network SWR that based on the information available so far, there are "strong doubts" about both the acceptance and feasibility of Ferat's plans.
This is not the first time the 35-year-old politician has stirred up controversy with his initiatives. Last year, he proposed organizing an 8-day "fact-finding mission" to Cap d'Agde, France, one of Europe's most popular destinations for nudists and swingers.
According to his plan, such a visit could be the first step in creating a relevant tourist and entertainment identity in Mannheim, which - as he argues - could also give the city an economic boost.
However, for now, Julien Ferat's ambitious plan remains more of a political challenge and vision than a reality, with the possibility of a swingers party within Mannheim's city hall already encountering considerable backlash. ©LAPSI.al
