After heavy criticism
Family Minister Anne Spiegel apologizes for vacation after the flood disaster
Anne Spiegel (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
© Kay Nietfeld / DPA
After growing criticism, Family Minister Anne Spiegel apologized for mistakes in dealing with the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley. The occasion was a four-week vacation by the then Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of the Environment shortly after the flood.
In a short-term press statement, Federal Family Minister Anne Spiegel (Greens) admitted mistakes in connection with the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley and apologized for her vacation. “It was a mistake that we went on vacation for so long and I apologize for this mistake,” said the Green politician on Sunday evening in Berlin.
She justified her decision at the time with the health of her husband, who had previously suffered a stroke. Her family needed the vacation “because my husband couldn’t take it anymore,” said the 41-year-old, who faltered several times during the statement. Spiegel has four children.
Union calls for Anne Spiegel’s resignation
It had previously become known that the Environment Minister at the time in Rhineland-Palatinate had left for a four-week family vacation in France ten days after the flood and had only interrupted it once for a site visit in the Ahr Valley. The deputy government spokesman, Sebastian Kusche, confirmed a corresponding report by “Bild am Sonntag” to the German Press Agency in Mainz, with reference to a statement from the Ministry of the Environment. However, Spiegel was always available, also took part in cabinet meetings via video and managed the daily crisis situations in her ministry, the letter says.
The Union is now demanding the dismissal of Spiegel. “It proves again: For Ms. Spiegel, vacation and her own image were more important than the fate of the people on the Ahr. The Chancellor must fire her,” said CDU leader Friedrich Merz on Sunday of the “Bild” newspaper. Spiegel did not comment on the resignation demands from the opposition.