Almost like Trapattoni once did |
CSU politician freaks out in front of the press
As Minister of Agriculture (from 2014 to 2018), CSU politician Christian Schmidt (64) was not exactly known for his exuberant temperament. On the contrary, he was even considered one of the lesser-known federal ministers under Chancellor Merkel.
Today Schmidt is the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina – an important and highly paid post at the UN – and caused quite a stir – with an outburst of anger in front of the camera!
This brings back memories of Giovanni Trapattoni, who only became really famous with his angry speech as Bayern coach (1998)…
“Garbage! Absolute rubbish!” Schmidt got upset about a question from a journalist during a visit to the small town of Gorazde in English. “I’m not sitting and standing here, I’m concerned with the people in this country,” he says. And: “I get as far as here,” he gestures at his neck.
He also emphasized that he cares for the country and its people. “This is a city where people have lost their lives,” said Schmidt, referring to the Yugoslav war in the small town of Gorazde, which was heavily contested between Serbs and Bosniaks (Muslim Bosnians). “We are not here to play political games.”
“Ask your questions, but take it as I choose,” he said. “Sorry for being so blunt but I’ve got it this far with the insults being dead wrong,” he added.
The tantrum quickly made the rounds on the Internet and was subtitled on local television. Reason for the outburst of anger: Schmidt responded to a journalist’s question as to whether he was prepared to implement changes to the electoral law, since there was no political agreement.
The next parliamentary elections will take place in Bosnia-Herzegovina at the beginning of October. The long-standing CSU member of the Bundestag has been the international representative in the capital Sarajevo for a good year. His responsibilities include implementing the 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended the war that separated Bosnia-Herzegovina from then-Yugoslavia.