Armin Laschet, the conservative pick to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor, has been sharply criticised after he was seen laughing during a speech by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier about devastating flash floods that have left more than 150 people dead.
Many people are still missing following the deadly flash floods in western Germany. Further flooding also devastated towns in Bavaria and Austria over the weekend.
As politicians of all parties cancelled vacations and flocked to the flooded areas to express their condolences, Laschet was photographed laughing during Steinmeier’s speech.
Laschet has since apologised, saying it was “Not okay to laugh at such a moment.” The man hoping to succeed Angela Merkel after September’s election attributed the slip to the emotionally strenuous weekend he had had visiting the affected areas.
FISHY MONDAY: Agriculture (and/or fishery) ministers meet today and should still be very enthusiastic after reaching a political agreement on the Common Agricultural Policy. They’ll also welcome a Commission plan to boost organic farming by the end of the decade, according to their own planned conclusions, which are available here.
Also happening today: European Council chief Charles Michel will attend the Batumi International Conference organized by the Georgian government. Ahead of the visit, Georgian MP Salome Samadashvili, a former head of Georgia’s mission to the EU, argues in this opinion piece that Michael has unfinished work in the country, and must stand up for the power-sharing agreement that bears his name.
Gisteren om 07:52 door tact
In Duitsland is er heel wat ophef ontstaan nadat Armin Laschet (CDU) al lachend gefilmd werd, terwijl hij een bezoek bracht aan het zwaar door het noodweer getroffen Erftstadt. Laschet is deelstaatpremier en de mogelijke opvolger van Angela Merkel als bondskanselier.
Laschet was te zien tijdens de speech van Duits president Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Hij staat in de achtergrond samen met enkele anderen te lachen en te babbelen, terwijl Steinmeier de hulpverleners bedankt en zijn medeleven betuigt aan de slachtoffers. Daarmee slaat Laschet geen goed figuur, klinkt het in Duitsland. Intussen moest hij zich ook al verontschuldigen voor zijn ongepaste optreden voor de camera’s.
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