NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet visits the flood areas again. Residents are bitterly disappointed with the crisis management – which the CDU boss relentlessly felt.
Swisttal – During a site visit to the flood area of Swisttal near Bonn, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet was massively criticized by those who suffered from the flood disaster.
As the Union Chancellor candidate walked through the destroyed streets on Monday, two and a half weeks after the devastating storms with dozens of deaths, the anger of many residents about the still lack of local help unleashed.
So far, he has not seen any help from the state government or the local administration, one man complained. Instead, young people would have helped clean up. Another man also complained about “huge failures” and threatened – also in Laschet’s direction: “You will notice when you vote.” On September 26th there is a general election.
Laschet assured several times that he was there to get an idea and would take care of support. The regions affected need immediate immediate aid. “Then comes the big task: the reconstruction. The federal and state governments will work together. And we’re working at full speed so that decisions will soon be made at the federal level, ”said Laschet.
In the storm of the century a good two and a half weeks ago, there were 47 fatalities in North Rhine-Westphalia alone. There was also enormous damage to property. Inadequate communication and late warnings to the population had been criticized from many quarters.
During his visit, Laschet paid tribute to the work of the volunteers. “Everywhere I heard the great voluntary commitment there was when the need was greatest,” said the Union candidate for chancellor. Many helpers are at the limit of their strength. Their work must continue if the volunteers had to go back to their jobs. “We now have to do everything we can to create a transition here as smoothly as possible.”
On his tour of the Heimerzheim district of Swisttal, Laschet was also taken to heavily damaged houses, some of whose cellars are still full of mud and driftwood. The village was evacuated and closed for five days after the flood disaster.
Next Monday, Laschet wants to discuss the situation in a special session of the state parliament. “In view of the extent of the destruction and suffering that the storm disaster of July brought to our country, I suggest a joint memorial act by the state government and the state parliament,” Laschet wrote to the state parliament president André Kuper (CDU). Laschet wrote that representatives of the numerous aid organizations should also be invited as guests. dpa
