The CDU member of the Bundestag, Roderich Kiesewetter, has apologized for an incident at a town festival in Ellwangen, Baden-Württemberg. According to a security company, he is said to have insulted employees of the company and the city administration. It was a comparison with those responsible in concentration camps, said the owner of the security company, Peter Odenwalder, on Thursday.
He no longer remembers the exact wording of the insult at the home days in Ellwangen on July 22nd. A spokesman for the city of Ellwangen also confirmed that there was “an incident” with the politician on July 22, and that employees from the municipality were also present. First reported the Swabian Post.
Kiesewetter did not comment specifically on the allegations when asked. He said in a statement: “I have asked and received your forgiveness for what happened. That’s the end of it for me.”
Head of security company: “That was a stupid statement that evening”
The allegations against Kiesewetter became public through a message from an AfD city council in Aalen, which the AfD district association Ostalb published on Facebook. According to the owner of the security company, Kiesewetter and others at his table did not comply with the request to leave the wine cellar.
Accordingly, the request because of the bar closing at 1.30 a.m. applied to all guests. In the course of an argument, the concentration camp comparison came about. As a result, Kiesewetter was left sitting in the wine bar, said Odenwald. Shortly thereafter, he and his companions left.
“That was a stupid statement that evening,” said Odenwald. Alcohol is no excuse for that. “But he apologized personally and that was the end of the matter for me.” The city of Ellwangen sees it that way too. “Mr. Roderich Kiesewetter immediately and comprehensively apologized in writing and personally,” it said in a statement. This apology was accepted by all sides. “We consider the matter closed.”