The Foreign Ministry rejects criticism of a short-haul flight taken by Minister Baerbock. She boarded the plane overnight from a European Championship soccer match in Frankfurt to Luxembourg.
The Foreign Office has rejected criticism of Minister Annalena Baerbock for taking a short-haul flight from Frankfurt after a European Championship soccer match. The Green politician’s route after the start of night flight restrictions sparked a discussion. A spokesman stressed on Wednesday that when the Foreign Minister travels, the best transport option is of course always checked. He also gave figures: “In her role as Foreign Minister, she has so far flown on scheduled flights three times and traveled by train at least four times.”
According to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, the government plane with Baerbock on board took off shortly before midnight on June 23 after attending the European Championship match between Germany and Switzerland. Night flight restrictions apply at Frankfurt Airport between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Late takeoffs are possible until midnight, including for “flights of particular public interest.” The Greens are committed to a climate-friendly and social transport policy.
The Foreign Office spokesman said that Baerbock had travelled on to Luxembourg for the meeting of EU foreign ministers that began the following morning, and then to the Middle East. “It is simply in the nature of the job of the foreign minister – ten trips to the Middle East alone in the last few months – that many of these trips can only be completed with the air force due to the tight schedule,” he said. And: “In this respect, it is not a circumvention of the rules, but a normal onward journey to Luxembourg took place within the framework of what is legally possible and the applicable regulations, which the air force then implemented.”
According to reports, Baerbock had used a replacement aircraft (“hot spare”) that had been kept ready for Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Frankfurt. When asked about this, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said that the Bundeswehr’s air force keeps a second aircraft ready for particularly important appointments and for the relevant personalities. He continued: “I have no knowledge of whether this is the case for the European Football Championship.”
Source: Stern
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