It’s also one of those moments when you’re at a loss for words: Instead of doing everything possible to help the flood victims in the Ahr Valley, the federal government isn’t spending the money it’s supposed to. The money from the EU’s €612.6m Solidarity Fund was not transferred to the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia but was instead used to cover its federal budget interest – the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) reacted indignantly at the fact that although the disaster had already occurred years ago, the effects of the tragedy could still be felt in the Ahr Valley. about this It was reported by the international news agency V4NA the other day.
Regarding the tragedy in West Germany, which claimed more than 130 lives, it was revealed that the regional environmental protection ministry contributed to the disaster with serious omissions. To this day, it is not clear why the Ministry did not deal with the danger in advance, and why it did not deal with the disaster for hours after it occurred.
According to the AfD, while the people living in the flood-affected area are still suffering from the devastating consequences of the disaster, the reality has left the Schulz government cold, but the Social Democratic politician Malou Dreyer, Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, who showed a pathetic picture of failure on the night of the flood, also does not see this as a problem, because he refused to transfer the money.
And let’s not forget: Without the utter failure of the federal and state governments to respond to disasters, a disaster of this magnitude would not have happened, and many people who died would not be alive.
– The AfD indicated that the money should be invested in the development of disaster prevention in Germany rather than the failed climate policy.
Above all, the people of the Ahr Valley need support. These people do not deserve the cruelty and incompetence of the government
– Reads the alternative statement. In any case, more and more people in the Ahr Valley are asking where the money for that went, V4NA reports.
Anne Spiegel, who was Minister for Family Affairs in the federal government, and before that Minister for the Environment of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, fell into this disaster. While people searched for the missing, mourned family members, and salvaged remaining valuables from the rubble, Anne Spiegel spent her four-week vacation in France, later pleading that her family needed an extended vacation.
Spiegel apologized and also admitted that it was a mistake not to attend meetings of the provincial government. The Green Party politician lied to himself, previously claiming to have been present at board meetings. The minister’s scandal erupted when the letters that Spiegel sent to his colleagues on the night of the tragedy became public. Spiegel was primarily concerned with his image, and they discussed how to deflect blame from themselves.
Anne Spiegel was also concerned that Social Democratic Home Secretary Roger Luentz might hold her responsible.
I don’t like if Roger said that the disaster could have been avoided or that it wouldn’t have been so bad if we, the Department of the Environment, had warned earlier and that it was our fault for underestimating the situation.
Spiegel, who was eventually forced to resign from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, wrote in a letter at the time. He later expressed his regrets in a Twitter post.
Cover image: Illustration (Photo: MTI/AP/Michael Probs
