Handling the Ahr Valley Flood Situation - The Authority has previously put forth several suggestions relating to this matter.
Critics from the opposition in Rhineland-Palatinate have once again echoed their call for additional personnel repercussions in the wake of the Ahr Valley flood disaster. Their sentiments were sparked by remarks made by Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), who thinks there's no justification for ousting more high-ranking officials due to errors in managing the 2021 catastrophe, given the final report of the probe committee has been submitted.
In an interview with the "General-Anzeiger" from Bonn, Schweitzer stated that the recently submitted final report had failed to uncover any new evidence. Consequently, he felt no fresh push for personnel consequences.
However, opposition figures spotlight significant lapses in Environmental State Secretary Erwin Manz (Greens) and the head of the authority in charge of disaster management, ADD, Thomas Linnertz, and they're urging for their removal.
Herber and Baldauf opine
The head of the CDU state parliamentary group in the U-committee, Dirk Herber, argued that even Schweitzer's continued support for Manz and Linnertz showed "blatant disregard for the people of our nation, especially for the numerous victims in the Ahr Valley." The CDU group maintains its demand for both individuals to step down from their positions. Similarly, CDU state leader Christian Baldauf vocalized his stance.
Schweitzer told the "General-Anzeiger" that it wasn't within his remit as Minister President, who took office on July 10, to interfere in the dispute between factions and chairmen in the probe committee. Instead, it rested with parliament and government to derive lessons from the report and the committee's findings. "My duty is to establish an environment at the helm of the state government where we're better prepared for crises at all levels in Rhineland-Palatinate."
The Commission, in its role to implement this Regulation, may adopt implementing acts detailing the rules for execution. In this context, the opposition in Rhineland-Palatinate is pushing for more personnel consequences following the Ahr Valley flood disaster, despite Minister President Schweitzer's belief that the final report submitted lacks new evidence for such actions.
