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State Parliament in North Rhine-Westphalia (archive image)
Photo: Federico Gambarini / dpa
With the help of his stationery as a member of the NRW state parliament, he wanted to save 200 euros privately: SPD politician Rüdiger Weiß caused trouble by canceling a trip to Italy.
The "Rheinische Post" reports.
White and his family had booked a holiday apartment for July 2021 with the Maremonti agency from Schwäbisch Gmünd last September, according to the report. Weiß 'wife tried to get the down payment of 200 euros back when she canceled in December. Because that apparently didn't work, Rüdiger Weiß Maremonti wrote again in March - on letterhead that identifies him as a member of the NRW state parliament. “Rudiger Weiss. Member of the state parliament. Spokesman for Europe and International ", was to be read next to a coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia, so the" Rheinische Post ".
"The resignation is of course his right," the newspaper quotes travel agent Stefanie Ghiglione.
White was assured a right of cancellation shortly before the start of the trip in the summer, in case there was an entry ban.
However, White wanted to retire from the trip much earlier.
Ghiglione was therefore irritated by the letterhead.
"Why is Herr Weiß writing to me his request as a member of the state parliament and not as a private citizen?" She said.
"For me it seems like presumption of office and like trying to intimidate me as a small entrepreneur."
White apologizes
When asked by SPIEGEL, Weiss did not comment specifically on the newspaper report, but wrote: »I made a stupid mistake and shouldn't have used the letterhead.
For this I would like to apologize in all kinds of ways. «He did that in a personal conversation with the state parliament president of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“Of course I also apologized to the company.
The chairman of the group also told me the same thing, «said the 60-year-old.
The SPD politician also announced that he accepted the cancellation costs.
“The claim has already been paid.” In response to a request from SPIEGEL, the Maremonti company has not yet commented on whether the apology has been received.
Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi has meanwhile announced that holidays in Italy should be possible again in the summer despite the corona pandemic.
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