Anne Spiegel (Green Party), former Rhineland–Palatinate state Environment minister was not concerned about the plights of the people during the Ahr Valley’s severe floods last year. She was more concerned about her image. Recent emails and chat transcripts show this. Spiegel has since been elevated to federal Minister for Family Affairs in a traffic light coalition government of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens (FDP), and Olaf Scholz(SPD).
The flood disaster, which claimed well over 200 lives, hit parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, the Netherlands and Belgium from July 14 to 15. 134 people died and more than 700 were injured in the Ahr valley in Rhineland-Palatinate. It was and continues to be devastating to see the destruction of homes, apartments, businesses and roads, bridges, and other central infrastructure like water and electricity supply.
August 4, 2008, WSWS: The criminal inaction of all levels of government is the direct cause of floods that killed so many and caused such severe damage. Authorities and governments were warned long before people were swept away by the deadly waters. They refused to take any precautions or evacuate the affected people. They failed to inform the public about the imminent danger.
This assessment is supported by a report in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung(FAZ), March 9. The confidential files of the Rhineland-Palatinate committee of inquiry regarding the flood disaster at the Ahr Valley were obtained by the newspaper. These files contain chat transcripts and emails of Spiegel, who was climate minister in the state government during the flood.
On the morning July 15, it was impossible to imagine the extent of the flooding. As the flood raged, houses were destroyed, cars were left hanging in trees, and countless trees were uprooted and cars destroyed. People were missing. Some had been taken by surprise by the floodwaters and were either drowned or washed away in their homes. Others were still able to shelter on the roofs of their homes, which they had rescued during the night. Spiegel and the Environment Ministry press office were more concerned about their image than anything else.
Spiegel was sent a text message by a Ministry of the Environment employee. The message was almost identical to Dietmar Brck’s at the time. It stated that the situation was extremely serious, that a disaster had been declared in several areas, and that people were missing.
The response was not to rush to help the distressed, to find the missing and injured, or to arrange emergency shelters, medical care, or clean up the mess. These tasks were instead taken over by thousands volunteers over the next few days.
Instead, Brck, the press spokesman, wrote Spiegel and the staffer to say that the heavy rainfall event would be the dominant theme. Anne must play a credible part, but it should not be seen as being politically instrumentalised.
Further revelations about the state executive’s division of labor followed. Brcks communication indicated that Minister President Malu Dreyer (SPD), would express sympathy. However information on the flood situation and warnings may be provided by the Environment Ministry. It was important to note that Dreyer and SPD Interior minister Roger Lewentz had begun talking about a five point plan against heavy rainfall.
Spiegel replied, “That coincides with my thinking.” … We need to make it clear that we were able to warn in time. I had warned in cabinet that without preventative and protective measures, everything could have been worse. Roger might even argue that the disaster could’ve been prevented or not been as bad if the Environment Ministry had warned sooner.
These were Spiegel’s thoughts and reflections as the catastrophe became more apparent and the Ahr Valley death toll grew hourly.
Yes, Spiegels Environment Ministry had the responsibility to notify the population loudly and evacuate as many Ahr residents as possible. Based on the forecast water levels and the advance warnings from meteorologists, it was possible to issue urgent warnings. This was the responsibility of the State Office for the Environment.
At 3:24 p.m. on July 14, the Altenahr state office forecasted a water level over five metres. This is far more than the flood of 2016, which was at the height of the century. However, the Spiegels Environment Ministry sent an email at 4:43 pm stating that there was no danger of severe flooding.
According to the Koblenzer Rhein-ZeitungBefore the press release was published Spiegel was more concerned about its grammar than its false assertion that there was no flood danger.
Environment Ministry employees discovered that the email was outdated shortly after it was sent. According to the FAZ report, Erwin Manz (Greens), the State Secretary, wrote to the press office at 6 p.m. to inform them that the press release was no longer valid. According to it, there had been an extreme incident on the Ahr. A campsite had been evacuated. Manz said that there wasn’t any way to save the Ahr. This wasted valuable time, which could have saved many lives.
Spiegel was scheduled to testify before the investigative committee of state parliaments on Friday. Her attitude in the chat transcripts and emails does not suggest that she will take responsibility.
Interview with finance daily HandelsblattSpiegel declared arrogantly, shortly after the July floods, that one cannot protect oneself from every extreme weather event.
Spiegel, who was at the time deputy head in Rhineland-Palatinate, responded to questions on flood prevention by saying, But, one also needs to say clearly that with the current flood event, no flood prevention plan will work anymore. Throughout the interview, Spiegel repeatedly referred to the financial limitations of the state budget and demanded that the federal government provide more assistance.
In reality, her statements as well the emails and chat transcripts now available, which are full if contempt for people’s needs, outlined the real priorities of all capitalist political leaders. These are not the best interests of the working classes, the vast majority, who want safe living conditions and decent work conditions. The same principle applies to the environment as in the pandemic: profits before life.
Spiegel has now been elevated to the federal cabinet as family minister. Tens of thousands of flood victims in the Ahr Valley and elsewhere are still waiting for generous state support. Many are unable to submit claims due to the lengthy and complex process. Others are still waiting on important information and permits in order to be able repair or rebuild their apartments and houses. Reconstruction and repair of public infrastructure is also a long-term process.
Along with the floods and the coronavirus epidemic, rising inflation, and mounting social miseries, the threat to another devastating world war is now real. The Greens are also playing a leading role in the return to German militarism. They are the frontline of war hysteria and warmongering against Russia, but never mention the responsibility of NATO, the US, and German governments for inciting the war in Ukraine.