Government - Dreyer's last day in the Ahr Valley: "Important to show presence"
Before the third anniversary of the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley, Rhineland-Palatinate Minister-President Malu Dreyer thanked the mayors there. "Many great strides have been made, and that has a lot to do with you, both amateur and professional mayors," said the SPD politician to the mayors. In the valley, it can be seen that the dynamics, especially in terms of communal infrastructure, have increased significantly.
It was Dreyer's last full day as Minister-President, and on Wednesday, Social Minister Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) was to be elected as her successor. "Even though I won't be Minister-President tomorrow, but it was very important to me to still be present here today in the Ahr Valley one last time," said Dreyer.
The mayors also expressed their gratitude. "That you are among us in the Ahr Valley on your last days in office may be a coincidence. I don't believe in coincidences," said the mayor of the city of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Guido Orthen. "Perhaps it's rather a sign that the Ahr Valley, with the flood disaster of July '21 and the reconstruction period afterwards, has marked the last phase of your tenure."
Schweitzer spoke to the press for the first time after the cabinet meeting. Previously, he had already stated that reconstruction would also be a focus of his government work. The designated Minister-President still had the inauguration of a mobile phone mast and a visit to a Caritas elderly and disabled care facility on his schedule.
- Malu Dreyer highlighted the significant progress in flood protection measures in the Ahr Valley, acknowledging the crucial role of both amateur and professional mayors in SPD.
- Despite stepping down as Minister-President the next day, Dreyer was determined to visit the Ahr Valley one last time to thank the mayors for their efforts in disaster recovery.
- In appreciation for Dreyer's presence, the mayor of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler suggested that the Ahr Valley milestones, including the flood disaster and reconstruction, may symbolize the concluding phase of Dreyer's tenure as Minister-President.
- Alexander Schweitzer, the SPD's new choice for Minister-President in Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasized that flood protection and reconstruction would continue to be focal points in his upcoming government's work, as he engaged in local events in Dernau and a mobile phone mast inauguration.
