The Berlin SPD’s top candidate, Steffen Krach, has launched a sharp critique of Governing Mayor Kai Wegner’s handling of the recent widespread power outages that left tens of thousands without electricity. Krach’s remarks, delivered in an interview with “Der Spiegel” directly challenge Wegner’s leadership and highlight perceived failings in the city’s crisis response.
Krach questioned Wegner’s visibility during the crisis, stating, “When tens of thousands of people in his city are without power and freezing, I naturally expect a leader to be present from the very beginning”. He further demanded a clear plan from Wegner outlining how the situation will be managed in the coming days, indicating a dissatisfaction with the current trajectory.
The SPD candidate, who is directly contesting Wegner’s position in the upcoming Abgeordnetenhaus elections, escalated his criticism by questioning the provision of essential support. “Why isn’t Kai Wegner offering hotels to those suffering the most and ensuring that his finance senator sets aside an emergency fund for such measures?” Krach inquired, highlighting the disparity in access to resources. He referenced the situation involving singer Sarah Connor, who experienced the outage and publicly documented it, as a stark contrast to the needs of vulnerable populations. “While Sarah Connor can afford a hotel and doesn’t even ask for it, people who already have little need more support in this emergency situation.
Beyond the immediate emergency response, Krach also took aim at Wegner’s public appearances, characterizing a recent visit to an emergency shelter as “a brief visit with warm words – and that’s simply not enough”. He emphasized the risk of allowing the situation to be exploited by right-wing extremist groups for propaganda purposes, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the crisis. While acknowledging the importance of the individual departments and crisis teams involved, Krach fundamentally challenged Wegner’s leadership role. “My understanding of the role of a Governing Mayor is that he is the top crisis manager, holds all the threads in his hands and sets the direction”. His comments suggest a belief that Wegner has not adequately fulfilled that responsibility and hint at a broader disagreement regarding the nature of mayoral authority and crisis management protocol within Berlin’s government. The escalating political rhetoric signals a tightening race ahead of September’s elections.