Foundation Jena, which he continues to chair. On 21 May 2006, Schröter was elected Mayor of the City of Jena with a run-off vote of 54.4%. He assumed office on 1 July 2006. In 2010, Schröter became a member of the Presidium of the Association of German Cities. On 6 May 2012, he was re-elected with a run-off vote of 72.8% On 3 February 2015, Schröter placed 6th out of 121 mayors from around the world in an internet poll for the title "World Mayor". The British-based City Mayors Foundation awards the title "World Mayor" every two years in order to honour the achievements of mayors. In the 2018 election, he entered the second ballot on 29 April 2018, which he lost to FDP candidate Thomas Nitzsche. His term ended on 30 June 2018. Political positions Schröter is a committed opponent of far-right politics. In 2009 he launched the "Communities against Right-wing Extremism" (Kommunen gegen Rechtsextremismus), establishing a network of medium German communities in the fight against neo-Nazis and offering mutual support countering Nazi rallies. On 17 November 2011, Albrecht Schröter received an award for "civil courage against right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and racism". The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin honoured the commitment of the city of Jena against contemporary right-wing extremism. Controversy In September 2015, Schröter gained attention after offering an opinion on the Middle East Conflict attention by accusing Israel of partial responsibility for the Syrian refugee crisis and calling on the German foreign minister to "show less restraint" toward the Jewish state. He was then accused of Volksverhetzung ("incitement to hatred", a crime under the German criminal law) by Andreas Neumann, member of a Messianic Jewish congregation from Bavaria. The criminal prosecutor from Gera who investigated the charge announced that it would not be acted upon. The Student Council of the University of Jena passed resolutions defending Schröter against accusations of individuals from the faculty and apologized for the accusation made against him of anti-Semitism. Other activities Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Thuringia, Member of the Board of Trustees Institute for Energy Law, University of Jena, Member of the Board of Trustees Helaba, Member of the Advisory Board (2012-2013) Personal life Schröter has married three times and has five children and two grandchildren. He is a descendant of Dorothea Sophie Michaelsen (née Händel) (1687–1720), a sister of George Frideric Handel. References 1955