A German Cabinet minister resigned Monday after it emerged that she went on a long vacation shortly after devastating floods which left over 100 people dead last year in the state where she was then a senior official.
Anne Spiegel quit her post as minister for families and women, citing “political pressure” as she became the first member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government to step down. An emotional apology on Sunday had failed to stem calls for her to go.
Spiegel joined Scholz’s Cabinet in December. Before that, she was the environment minister and deputy governor of Rhineland-Palatinate state. That was the region worst hit by floods in July that nationwideRegional officials have faced questions over their handling of the floods.
In a hastily arranged appearance on Sunday evening, Spiegel offered an apology but didn’t address the calls to go.“It was a mistake that we went on vacation for so long, and that we went on vacation, and I apologize for this mistake,” she said. She added that her children hadn’t dealt well with the COVID pandemic, that her husband needed to avoid stress after suffering a stroke, and that her family had needed a vacation.
On Monday, Spiegel issued a terse written statement saying that she had “decided today because of the political pressure” to step down.Spiegel is a member of the environmentalist Greens, the second-biggest party in Scholz’s governing coalition. Party co-leader Omid Nouripour said her resignation was “right ... as difficult as this decision was.” He said a successor would be named “very soon.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russian reporter who protested war on the air has new job with German news companyThe Russian television reporter who famously held up a poster during a live prime-time news broadcast protesting the war in Ukraine has a new job — with a major German media company.
Read more »
German firm builds floating solar plant on quarry lakeA Germany company will next month switch on a floating solar power plant it has built on a quarry lake, a rapidly-installed, renewable technology it says could help wean the country off Russian fossil fuels.
Read more »
German economy minister says will help push wind power expansionGerman Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Monday a decline in the roll-out of wind power installations in the first quarter of 2022 clashed with goals for more renewable energy, pledging the government will try to speed a reversal of the trend.
Read more »
German Govt Loses Vote on Imposing Mandatory Vaccines on Over-60sThe Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament, has rejected a vaccine mandate for people over the age of 60, with the left-liberal coalition government’s proposal losing by over 80 votes.
Read more »
Britney Spears Says She's Having A BabyOn Instagram, the pop star said she and her fiance, Sam Asghari, joked about her being 'food pregnant' after she gained weight during a vacation to Maui.
Read more »