On Sunday evening, the Greens politician initially described her vacation as a mistake in a very emotional statement and apologized for it.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The co-chairman of the forum for the democratic left in the SPD (DL21), Sebastian Roloff, sees no reason to doubt the ability of the traffic light coalition to act following the resignation of family minister Anne Spiegel (Greens).
“I’m assuming there will be a quick replacement, as announced by the Greens, and I’m sure that the federal government will always be able to act,” the member of the Bundestag told the Handelsblatt.
Spiegel resigned on Monday. She was accused of a four-week family vacation shortly after the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. At that time, as Rhineland-Palatinate’s Environment Minister, she was also responsible for civil protection.
Roloff sharply criticized the CDU. He referred to those cabinet members in the North Rhine-Westphalian state government who were in Mallorca after the extent of the flood disaster became known. “The CDU cannot tackle Ms. Spiegel for weeks in a campaign and at the same time close its own eyes,” said the SPD politician. “I expressly expect consequences here, the standard is now set and applies to everyone the same.”
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
On Thursday it became known that the NRW Environment Minister Ursula Heinen-Esser, who has since resigned, met a few days after the flood on the holiday island with Building Minister Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Europe Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner and the then State Secretary and current member of the Bundestag Serap Güler (all CDU). had. The occasion was a birthday party for Heinen-Esser’s husband.
Spiegel withdrawal could intensify debate about other ministers
As a result of the flood of the century, more than 180 people lost their lives, 134 of them in the Ahr valley. Hundreds more were injured, and thousands of homes and significant infrastructure were destroyed. Many people still live in emergency or alternative quarters.
NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) ruled out consequences for other cabinet members who attended the birth party in Mallorca on Monday. When asked about this, Wüst replied: “All those involved have apologized for their misconduct and the apologies were credible.”
>> Read also: Comment – The mirror resignation is the next embarrassment for Scholz and the traffic light
In Berlin, however, the resignation of the Greens minister could intensify the debate about other ministers in the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP. In the past few weeks, there has also been harsh criticism of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (both SPD).
Lambrecht is accused of being too hesitant in arms exports to Ukraine. Lauterbach has to justify the failure to vaccinate, the Infection Protection Act and the withdrawal of new quarantine regulations.
It has not yet been clarified who will succeed Spiegel in the office of family minister. “We will very soon – promptly – submit a proposal for the successor,” said Green co-boss Omid Nouripour. However, given the competition from the party wings, this is not considered easy. Spiegel represented the left wing.
In order to maintain parity between men and women in the cabinet, the Greens would have to nominate a woman again. Otherwise, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) promise that there will be no fewer women than men in his cabinet will be in jeopardy. “It’s all up to the Greens. There is no interference in their questions,” said Vice Chancellor and FDP leader Christian Lindner.
More: “Formula, defensive – almost forced like a hostage video”: The four communication errors of Anne Spiegel