Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner Under Fire for Playing Tennis During Major Power Outage
Berlin, January 9 – Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner is facing a storm of criticism following revelations that he played tennis for an hour last weekend, just as thousands of households across the city were plunged into darkness due to a significant power outage. The incident, initially reported by RBB on Wednesday, has escalated into a political controversy, with opposition parties demanding Wegner’s resignation.
The Power Outage and the Mayor’s Actions
The power outage, attributed to an attack by the group known as ‘Vulkangruppen’, affected approximately 45,000 households in Berlin. While emergency services worked to restore power, the Senate Chancellery confirmed, at the request of RBB, that Mayor Wegner engaged in a tennis match between 1 PM and 2 PM on Saturday. Despite this, the Chancellery maintained that Wegner “was always available” during the crisis.
Wegner himself had previously asserted his constant involvement in crisis management, stating he had ‘closed himself at home in his office, in the truest sense’. However, the information regarding his tennis match, which took place at a facility on the outskirts of Berlin, appears to contradict this claim.
Political Fallout and Calls for Resignation
The controversy intensified following a political talk show hosted by Markus Lanz, where questions about Wegner’s resignation were raised. Although Wegner was not present on the show, the incident has fueled demands for his resignation from both the AfD and FDP parties.
The timing of these revelations is particularly sensitive as Berlin prepares for new House of Representatives elections in approximately eight months. Instead of being perceived as a strong crisis manager, Wegner’s actions at the onset of the power outage are likely to become a significant point of contention during the upcoming election campaign.
Mayor’s Reaction to Power Restoration
By Wednesday noon, power had been fully restored to all affected households. Commenting on the situation, Mayor Wegner told the press, “I’ve never been so happy in my life that the electricity is back.”
This incident marks a critical moment for Mayor Wegner’s administration and his public image, potentially impacting his political future in the upcoming elections.
