German family minister resigns after vacation scandal

BERLIN (AA) - Germany’s Family Minister Anne Spiegel announced her resignation on Monday after media reports revealed that she took a holiday in France, shortly after the deadly floods that devastated parts of her home state of Rhineland-Palatinate last year.

Spiegel, one of the most popular Green politicians, said in a statement that she decided to resign from the post to prevent further damage to the office which faced major political challenges in recent days.

“My big thanks go to everyone who supported me in solidarity, and especially to my team,” she said.

The 41-year-old politician was the deputy premier and environment minister of the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate last summer when severe floods claimed more than 130 lives and caused widespread devastation.

According to a report by the weekly Bild am Sonntag, Spiegel took a four weeks holiday in France shortly after the floods and did not return to the region although the flood-hit towns were still trying to clean up the damage and rebuild.

On Sunday, Spiegel had apologized for her behavior but told reporters that her family needed this holiday, as her small children had difficulties during the coronavirus restrictions, and she had to find a way to reduce stress for her husband, who suffered from a stroke a few years ago.