CDU District Chairman: "Wegner was a step further away" - Berlin mayor under fire for playing tennis amid citywide blackout crisis
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner has faced criticism for playing tennis during a major power outage in the city. The blackout left entire districts without electricity, prompting questions about his response to the crisis. Meanwhile, local officials like CDU district chair Stephan Standfuß took swift action as the situation unfolded.
The outage struck on a Saturday, catching many off guard. Standfuß, who represents Steglitz-Zehlendorf, realised the severity early. By midday, he was already at Zehlendorf Town Hall, warning that the situation would escalate. 'This was a crisis,' he later told reporters. 'It was Saturday afternoon, and my entire constituency had no power.'
Wegner, however, was initially less aware of the scale. Standfuß described the mayor as 'a bit removed from it all' at first. Wegner later admitted to playing tennis between 1:00 and 2:00 PM that day. He defended the decision, saying he needed to clear his head but stayed reachable throughout. The following day, Wegner visited an emergency shelter and told reporters he had spent hours on the phone coordinating relief efforts. Standfuß took a cautious stance on the criticism, stating he wouldn’t fault Wegner for the tennis match if the mayor had managed the aftermath properly. Still, calls for Wegner’s resignation have since grown louder from different political groups.
The blackout exposed differences in how leaders responded under pressure. While Standfuß moved quickly to address the crisis, Wegner’s delayed reaction drew scrutiny. The incident has now sparked broader debate over his leadership during emergencies.
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