Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff is criticized after his flood-filled visit to the Mansfeld-Südharz district on Thursday. In one video you can see how the CDU politician responded to an attacker with the words “You better go to work!” React. When questioned, the State Chancellery defended the statement: It was a “constructive request”.
Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff (CDU) is criticized after his visit with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to the flooded area of the Helme in Mansfeld-Südharz on Thursday. In a video shared by “Spiegel”, he reacts to an attacker at the scene with the words: “Yes, you better go to work!”
State Chancellery: Haseloff's statement was a “constructive request”
Government spokesman Matthias Schuppe defended Haseloff's statement when questioned. He told MDR SAXONIA-ANHALT that the Prime Minister's statement was a “constructive request” to help defend dikes or fill sandbags. “We stand by that too,” says Schuppe.
It was a group of six to eight people who mainly insulted Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his visit to the flooded area. They were not helpers. Furthermore, the environment among the helpers was “absolutely peaceful, constructive and occasionally critical,” Schuppe emphasized.
FDP defends “human reaction”
When asked, the FDP also supported Haseloff. State parliamentary group leader Andreas Silbersack said it was unacceptable for politicians who wanted to get an idea of the situation to be harassed.
I am not surprised that the Prime Minister shows a human reaction with such a disposition.
Andreas Silbersack, chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in the state parliament
“I am not surprised that the prime minister shows a human reaction with such a disposition,” explained Silbersack. Therefore, he could not understand the excitement from other parties.
“Unworthy of a Prime Minister” Opposition politicians criticize Haseloff
The head of the left-wing parliamentary group in the state parliament, Eva von Angern, harshly criticized the statements. She told MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT that the people affected were in an exceptional situation and were afraid for their existence. Special care is required. Haseloff failed to fulfill this responsibility through his “harassment of an affected person.” He has “the Arrogance of power shown”. This is unacceptable and “unworthy of a prime minister”.
The leaders of opposition groups in the state parliament criticize Haseloff's statement. (File image) Image rights: picture Alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Klaus Dietmar Gabbert
Meanwhile, criticism also came from the Greens in the state parliament. Parliamentary group leader Cornelia Lüddemann said she found the insults and Haseloff's statement “unreasonable and inappropriate.” It must be a matter of everyone doing their part to deal with the current danger and its consequences.
The leader of the AfD parliamentary group, Oliver Kirchner, accused the prime minister of having lost contact with the population. “If Mr. Haseloff dares to step out of his political bubble with a company car and personal security, it becomes immediately clear that he no longer knows how to deal with normal citizens,” explained Kirchner.
Reviews from residents in the flood zone
The atmosphere during the visit of Scholz, Haseloff and Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) was tense. Intermittent shouts such as “get out” or “traitor” could be heard repeatedly.
According to media reports, residents also complained that flood protection measures were suspended during the politicians' visit. Furthermore, false reports about Scholz's visit were circulating on social media, which were refuted by research by MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT.
More about flooding in Saxony-Anhalt
MDR (Daniel Salpius, Felix Fahnert, Lars Frohmüller, Maren Wilczek) | First published January 5, 2024
This topic in the program:MDR SAXONIA-ANHALT – Radio like us | January 5, 2024 | 11:00 am
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