Spiegel went on vacation for four weeks after the flood disaster

Created: 04/10/2022 13:03

Anne Spiegel (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Federal Minister for Family Affairs.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa/archive image

The former Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of the Environment and current Federal Minister for Family Affairs Anne Spiegel (Greens) spent four weeks on family vacation in France in the summer of 2021 shortly after the flood disaster on the Ahr.

The deputy government spokesman, Sebastian Kusche, confirmed a corresponding report by "Bild am Sonntag" on Sunday at the German Press Agency in Mainz.

But he does not see any parallels to the case of the resigned NRW Environment Minister Ursula Heinen-Esser (CDU).

Heinen-Esser resigned from her position on Thursday after it became known that she had celebrated a birthday with other members of the government in Mallorca a few days after the flood disaster in July 2021.

CSU General Secretary Stephan Mayer now demanded: "Spiegel should take Heinen-Esser as an example and make her office available." The Rhineland-Palatinate opposition, CDU, Free Voters and AfD, also called for the Green politician to resign.

more on the subject

"Mallorca affair": NRW Minister Heinen-Esser resigns

Green: Heinen-Esser lied, consequences needed

"Mallorca affair": NRW environment minister resigns

Kusche reported that Spiegel went on vacation ten days after the flood disaster with 135 dead and interrupted it once to get an idea of ​​the situation on site.

She was also available at all times and also took part in cabinet meetings via video.

The 41-year-old, who is dependent on the summer holidays because of her four children, only drove when a crisis team was set up in the house to deal with drinking water and sewage supply and waste disposal.

In the committee of inquiry into the flood disaster, the minister “answered every question in full”.

On the other hand, the CDU state chairman Christian Baldauf said that Spiegel was intolerable as a minister.

"A state minister who takes a four-week vacation during this serious catastrophe sets the wrong priorities." The parliamentary director and chairman of the free voters in the state parliament's investigation committee for the flood disaster, Stephan Wefelscheid, said: "Ms. Spiegel fled from responsibility.

When will she finally show strength of character, take the consequences and resign?” dpa