In the coalition, opinions differ as to whether a special commissioner would make sense to take over the coordination of aid for the affected municipalities after the floods in western Germany.

The municipalities of the Ahr valley had requested this.

A spokeswoman for the federal government rejected the proposal, and Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) also does not think it makes sense.

Eckart Lohse

Head of the parliamentary editorial office in Berlin.

  • Follow I follow

In the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, however, there is also support for the appointment of a special commissioner at the federal level. As a former mayor, he can "understand well" the demands of the municipalities, said the local political spokesman for the parliamentary group, Christian Haase (CDU), the FAZ.

"I support the call for a special commissioner who brings all the strings together." This special commissioner must be located at the federal level and be equipped with the necessary skills to be able to tackle the enormous coordinating task of reconstruction work in the best possible way.

“One thing is certain: as a municipal elected officer, you need a central contact person in the event of a crisis, otherwise important time is lost.” There is much to suggest that Haase has the support of the parliamentary group leadership with his demand.

Klöckner for special representatives at state level

Julia Klöckner, the Rhineland-Palatinate CDU chairman and federal minister of agriculture, showed understanding for the Ahr municipalities, but pleaded for a special representative at the state level. "I can fully understand the call for help from the mayors from the Ahr valley," Klöckner told the FAZ. "That is fatal and leads to considerable frustration among helpers and those affected."

Klöckner called on the Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) to appoint a special representative at the state level as quickly as possible, "who tackles, coordinates and can simply do it - who is noticeable and approachable for the people and has problem-solving skills". This commissioner could be the "bridge to the federal level", said Klöckner. "Because our federal promise is very clear: We will help people to rebuild quickly and unbureaucratically."

The deputy spokeswoman for the federal government Ulrike Demmer rejected the request on Wednesday. She referred to the State Secretaries' Committee of the Federation, which had already been set up to coordinate, and which had already met twice and which contributed to the organization of emergency aid. She announced that at the meeting of the Prime Ministers with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on Tuesday, in addition to the measures to fight the pandemic, the topic of flood aid will also be discussed. Next Wednesday, Chancellery Minister Helge Braun (CDU) will speak to mayors from the Ahr valley and the district administrator of the Ahrweiler district.

Previously, Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) had opposed the appointment of a special representative. "That would increase bureaucratic activity and make things more complicated," he said on Wednesday in the WDR. He was "convinced that the federal states must take this matter into their own hands and be able to rely on the support of the federal government." The proposal does not meet with approval from the Federal Ministry of the Interior because structures exist at the federal level and additional structures are not wanted. There is support wherever it is needed.