The flood disaster in western Germany affects Armin Laschet directly. The 60-year-old is Prime Minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The region in which whole areas have been flooded since Thursday and countless houses have been destroyed by the floods. At least 45 people lost their lives.
It is therefore one of Laschet’s tasks to get an idea of the situation on site, to give those affected hope again and to support them during these difficult hours. But that is exactly what the top politician and candidate for chancellor of the CDU is currently not achieving at all. On the contrary: Now Laschet even had to apologize for an inappropriate appearance in front of the cameras.
In the background Laschet doubles with laughter
The faux pas happened in Erftstadt, of all places. Armin Laschet traveled to the badly battered place on Saturday with the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (65). It then happened in a final conference in front of the assembled journalists: While Steinmeier was standing in front of the microphones, thanking the helpers and assuring the people in the flooded areas rapid help, Armin Laschet was only visible in the background. But that was enough to paint a more than unhappy picture.
The chancellor candidate did not notice the depressing situation in Erftstadt at all. Instead, Laschet and his entourage cracked jokes, even doubled over with laughter. The severe blows of fate of the townspeople did not seem to be able to spoil his good mood.
The recordings quickly made the rounds, the hashtag #LaschetLacht is already the hook for the mistake of the chancellor candidate. And the criticism was also not long in coming. “I’m really speechless,” wrote SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil (43) on Twitter about the scene. Later he added to “Bild”: “The way Armin Laschet is joking around in the background while the Federal President speaks to the victims is indecent and outrageous.”
The other reactions in the network were similar. There is talk of “irreverence”. Laschet is also assumed to have a bad character. Some even see him as simply unsuitable for the Chancellery because of the pictures.
“This was inappropriate and I am sorry”
On Saturday evening, Laschet himself commented on the incident and at the same time apologized for the scene. “The fate of those affected is close to our hearts, and we have heard about it in many conversations. All the more I regret the impression that was created by a conversation. This was inappropriate and I am sorry. “
For Laschet it was already the second misstep in the last few days for which the CDU politician had to take severe criticism. It was not until Thursday evening that the possible successor to Merkel was switched on in a WDR broadcast to answer questions about the flood disaster. When asked about climate protection measures, which after the pictures from West Germany could possibly become more of an issue again, Laschet reacted extremely thinly: “Sorry, young woman. Because now is such a day, you don’t change politics. ” All of this after “such a day” brought death and devastation to entire towns. (cat)