“Pious”, “without decency”: his laughing fit during his visit to the North Rhine-Westphalian flood area has consequences for Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet. There is criticism.
Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has apologized for the impression that his laugh had created 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 on Saturday evening. “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, the character shows itself. Anyone who sneers around in such difficult situations without feeling will disqualify himself.”
Hashtag #Laschetlacht trending on Twitter
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: “Rhenish cheerful nature in honor, but while the Federal President thinks of the victims fooling around without a mask, the seriousness of the situation does not do justice,” said parliamentary group vice Michael Theurer of “Bild am Sonntag”.
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 also laughed during a speech.
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