The minister flies for 531,000 Euros to EM-games
During the Football European Championship in Germany, many high-ranking politicians of the Federal Government attended the games. Some of them traveled by plane. The costs for the ministers' flight journeys amounted to over half a million Euro. This is evident from an answer of the Federal Defense Ministry in response to a query from the Left Group in the Bundestag.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD flew four times with the aircraft of the Federal Defense Ministry to EM games and back to Berlin. He was accompanied by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger. Separately, Faeser and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Greens each used the flight escort once to get to an EM game or return.
"Who causes costs of over half a million Euro for six supposed business trips is either completely irresponsible or ultimately detached," said the chairman of the Left Group in the Bundestag, Sven Giegold, to the "Welt". The flight escort should not "be the alternative means of transportation for the Federal Government's evening entertainment program." Giegold added: "Probably, the flight escort is the more pleasant means of transportation for the ministers and ministers and the chancellor due to the poorly maintained trains."
The games of the German team were attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. Faeser, as Interior Minister, is also responsible for sports and was therefore present at many games.
Annalena Baerbock used the EM also for diplomatic talks: Together with the Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, she visited the 1:1 draw between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich. After the EM game of the German national team against Switzerland in Frankfurt, Baerbock was flown by the Bundeswehr flight escort to Luxembourg - despite the night flight ban. This caused outrage.
- The Left Group in the Bundestag criticized the high costs associated with the ministers' flight journeys during the European Football Championship, with Sven Giegold stating that it was either irresponsible or detached to incur costs of over half a million Euro.
- In addition to Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger also traveled by plane for some of the European Football Championship games, accompanied by Scholz.
- Apart from Faeser and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of Alliance 90/The Greens, other high-ranking politicians from various political parties, including the FDP, attended the Germany team's games at the European Football Championship.
- The European Football Championship 2024 is reportedly being considered as a potential hosting venue for Germany, with Olaf Scholz already expressing his support for the bid.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the use of the Bundeswehr flight escort for ministers and politicians during the European Football Championship, it is expected to continue being used for diplomatic travel, including during events like the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
