Sunday 18th July 2021
Laughing in the flood area
Laschet says: “I’m sorry”
A visit to the North Rhine-Westphalian flood area has consequences for Armin Laschet. While the Federal President expresses his condolences to the victims, the Union’s candidate for chancellor laughs in the background. He apologizes on Twitter.
Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has apologized for his laugh during a speech by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the flood area. He regretted the impression created by a conversation. “This was inappropriate and I’m sorry,” wrote the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister on Twitter. “The fate of those affected is close to our hearts, and we have heard of it in many conversations.”
Laschet stands in the background on television pictures and photographs taken by photographers during a speech by the Federal President in Erftstadt. In one sequence, the CDU politician and his companions joke. You can see how he laughs and turns to his interlocutors. The pictures had triggered clear criticism.
“The way Armin Laschet fools around in the background while the Federal President speaks to the victims is indecent and outrageous,” said SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil of “Bild am Sonntag”. “In times of crisis, it is said that character shows itself. Anyone who sneers around in such difficult situations without feeling will disqualify themselves.”
#Laschetlacht
Meanwhile, the hashtag #Laschetlacht was trending on Twitter. The pianist Igor Levit spoke of “undignified behavior”. The former chairman of the German Ethics Council, Peter Dabrock, criticized “irreverence” towards the victims.
The FDP also went to court with Laschet. “Honorable Rhenish cheerful nature, said Vice-President Michael Theurer of” Bild am Sonntag “.” But while the Federal President is thinking of the victims to fool around without a mask, the seriousness of the situation does not do justice. “
Steinmeier and Laschet had spoken to helpers and firefighters in Erftstadt, where numerous houses and cars had been washed away in the past few days. In a short speech after the meeting, the Federal President had expressed his sympathy for the victims of the flood disaster and said: “Your fate tears our hearts apart.” In the network it was pointed out that Steinmeier had laughed during a speech.
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