Federal Family Minister Anne Spiegel (Greens) will resign in summer 2021 after criticism of her handling of the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate.

She announced this on Monday in Berlin.

"I'm doing this to avert damage to the office, which is facing major political challenges," said Spiegel.

The Greens-tip called the resignation right.

Party chairmen Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour said at a closed conference in Husum that Spiegel's successor should be decided quickly.

"We will make a proposal for the successor very soon, promptly," said Nouripour.

Spiegel did a good job and has now taken responsibility.

The Greens' leadership apparently suggested that Spiegel should resign on Sunday.

Scholz gave her backing

Spiegel was under pressure because she, as environment minister for Rhineland-Palatinate at the time, had gone on a four-week family vacation to France ten days after the flood disaster on the Ahr.

On Sunday evening she explained the background, visibly moved and close to tears.

She mentioned her extensive professional commitments, her husband's health problems and the burdens on the family with four small children due to the corona pandemic.

She also admitted that, contrary to what was originally announced, she had not joined the cabinet meetings during the holidays, but that her state secretary had taken over.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) gave her backing on Monday in view of calls for her resignation.

"As far as cooperation in the government is concerned, the Chancellor appreciates the minister and works closely and trustingly with her," said Deputy Government Spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin.

Spiegel's appearance in front of the press on Sunday evening had Scholz "personally moved and affected".

Just a few days ago, North Rhine-Westphalia's Environment Minister Ursula Heinen-Esser (CDU) resigned because of a holiday in Mallorca during the flood disaster.

In the Union there were then demands for his resignation, also against Spiegel, and the accusation of double standards among the Greens.

After Spiegel's statement on Twitter on Sunday evening, Junge Union boss Tilman Kuban again called for her resignation, as did CSU General Secretary Stephan Mayer.

Mayer said on Deutschlandfunk on Monday:

"I think, even if you saw Ms. Spiegel yesterday, I think she's not doing herself any favors if she continues to insist on staying in office." The question is "whether you're now exercising your office as Federal Minister for Family Affairs can, as is also necessary in view of the current challenges".

CDU leader Friedrich Merz had also called for the minister's resignation.

He told the "Bild" newspaper: "For Ms. Spiegel, holidays and her own image were more important than the fate of the people on the Ahr.

The chancellor must fire her.” Demands for her resignation also came from the AfD.