The recent widespread power outage in Berlin has ignited a political firestorm, with criticism escalating against Governing Mayor Kai Wegner of the CDU after he revealed he played tennis during the crisis. The incident, occurring while approximately 45,000 households were without power and amidst reports of at least one fatality related to the extreme cold, has drawn condemnation from both Green Party and AfD representatives, highlighting questions regarding leadership and crisis management.
Werner Graf, co-leader of the Green Party’s candidate team for the upcoming Berlin election, expressed “utter disbelief” at Wegner’s actions. He argued the Mayor’s behavior “doesn’t meet the criteria one would expect of a Governing Mayor” emphasizing the severity of the situation and alleging a lack of genuine crisis response. Graf further accused Wegner of mismanaging the broader event, pointing to a similarly disruptive incident just four months prior and questioning whether lessons had been learned. He sharply criticized the perceived laxity in addressing security threats, suggesting the city leadership prioritizes leisure over vigilance.
The AfD’s state leader and candidate for the House of Representatives, Kristin Brinker, went even further, calling for Wegner’s immediate resignation. While acknowledging a need for respite under heavy responsibility, Brinker harshly criticized what she characterized as a deliberate deception of the public. “The only consequence can be: resignation. Immediately” she stated, underlining her belief that Wegner’s actions were fatally damaging to the office. Brinker also accused Wegner of a delayed response and a failure to recognize the gravity of the situation.
Wegner has defended his actions, stating he played tennis between 1 PM and 2 PM to “clear his head” while remaining reachable by phone. He explained he received notification of the fire and potential widespread power outage at 8:07 AM on Saturday from Interior Senator Iris Spranger. He claimed to have immediately initiated telephone calls with crisis management teams, the national government and the Federal Chancellery and to have secured the involvement of the Federal Armed Forces.
Despite acknowledging the situation, Wegner has not admitted to a mistake regarding the tennis game, insisting his phone was on loud and he remained available throughout. He further argued that his presence at a physical location would have prevented crucial communication with national authorities.
The controversy transcends a simple lapse in judgment; it exposes a deeper debate about leadership accountability during emergencies and demands scrutiny of Berlin’s infrastructure security and contingency planning. The incident raises concerns about the prioritization of communication and coordination versus a visible, on-the-ground presence during a crisis, particularly given the potentially devastating consequences. The public backlash and calls for Wegner’s resignation suggest a serious erosion of trust in the city’s governing body.
