The stay of Thailand's King in Garmisch-Partenkirchen moves many people - and some are really angry. District Administrator Anton Speer feels this.
- The Thai king always causes a stir because he also resides in a hotel during Corona times in Garmisch-Partenkirchen .
- Some are annoyed by the apparent special treatment for the Thai king in terms of Corona requirements.
- Now this gets anger and district administrator Anton Speer felt - by hate calls and threatening letters .
- There are even more local stories in our weekly region newsletter for Garmisch-Partenkirchen or in our app.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Threatening scenarios are nothing new for Anton Speer . As well as. He was in charge of the G-7 summit at Schloss Elmau in 2015 and was at the forefront. "I even had police protection," the district administrator looks back. Logical that he was in the line of fire of the summit opponents. "I got a lot of threats."
Thai king resides in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: District administrator is threatened
Almost five years have passed since then. At the start of his second term after his landslide victory on March 15, the Unterammergau (61) is faced with similar problems. This time it is Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn , called Rama X. , who causes some trouble for the district head . The fact that the authorities did not deny the respective hotel permission to house the controversial monarch, since only tourist overnight stays were forbidden, is something that spears take personally. "I received hate calls, threatening letters and even a complaint about official supervision," emphasizes the district administrator .
FDP politician fears negative press because of Thai king in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The topic came up again in the first district day. At the very end of the public meeting under the point Other. Martin Schröter (FDP) had spoken and cleared his displeasure with the situation. "We keep making headlines about the Thai king , we even made it in the mirror," Schröter said. "I don't know if we can afford such a negative press in the long run."
Garmisch-Partenkirchen as Corona Residence for Thai King: Population protests
Combative: District Administrator Anton Speer does not let the threats get him down.
© Fellner
There were also protests from the population. The German Vice Ambassador of Luxembourg was also able to get a swipe at the old and new Mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen , Dr. Sigrid Meierhofer and Elisabeth Koch, do not resist. "According to the Spiegel article, they wash their hands innocently." Schröter warned to treat this "monarch with a rather scandalous vita", not preferentially. "Can't you find solutions through the rule of law?" He asked the district administrator .
District Administrator drove to the Thai King Hotel to speak to the managing director
Speer picked up the ball, but Schröter had little hope. "We sent the king a decision on how he should behave." Speer himself drove to the hotel after receiving a call from the district office saying that the king was standing in front of the hotel with a group of 30 men and was going on a bike tour . Without result.
District administrator in the hotel where the Thai king lives: Monarch supposedly wanted to cycle
In the conversation with the Tagblatt, Speer became more specific. He found no one in front of the hotel , but then spoke to the manager, who assured him that the king's group was in the hotel . "We have once again pointed out that the king must comply with the requirements."
Thai king enjoys diplomatic status
However, the district authority's hands are also tied to some extent. "He enjoys diplomatic status, " says Speer. He also received this information from the Ministry of the Interior. "And I'm not going to quarantine a diplomat for 14 days. There are simply different rules. ”The Foreign Office is also responsible for heads of state, Stephan Scharf adds.
Threatening letters to the district administrator about the Thai king even from the Netherlands
The threatening letters and emails now fill a folder in the district office, Scharf reveals. "They come from all over Germany, even from the Netherlands, hardly from the region, you can count them on one hand." Speer speaks openly about the content. "It says I should be stoned to die on Corona ." Not the fine English way. Sharply followed the letter. "I made countless phone calls." And experienced surprising reactions. "Most were small with hats and apologized."
The district administrator of Garmisch-Partenkirchen does not want to drink coffee with the Thai king
For Speer the topic is done - at least as long as no new news about misconduct by the Thai monarch arrives in office. He also has no interest in a meeting with Rama X . "I don't want it at all," he emphasizes. "Otherwise pictures may be taken of how to drink a coffee, then it means again that something is mumbled."
Those responsible for the district authority attach great importance to this not being the case. "There was nothing to say about what we did that was covered by the general rule at the time", emphasizes Scharf again.
FDP politicians are reprimanded for criticism of dealing with Thai king
In the district council Schröter got his fat at the end. Koch, of course, did not accept the criticism of her, emphasized that the "market has nothing to do with it" and remarked that she had expected "more of a person who belongs to the diplomatic corps" to have more expertise in this matter.
The topic of negative headlines brought Gerhard Schönes (CSU) to the scene. "The fact that you get up here certainly does not help us to be more positive," complained the Mittenwalder. "It would have been better to get in touch with the district administrator than to exploit it populistically." Schröter took note of it. Criticism is nothing new for him either.