Berlin Mayor Played Tennis During Major Blackout: Opposition Demands Resignation.

According to ТСН: Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner's 'professional suitability' came under fire due to his untimely leisure activities. While rescuers were struggling with the aftermath of a major sabotage to the electric grid, the mayor was engaged in sports.

Tennis Instead of Headquarters

This incident occurred on Saturday, January 3, just a few hours after a major blackout in southwestern Berlin. Kai Wegner confirmed that at that time he was playing tennis with his partner, education senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch.

The situation is complicated by the fact that it contradicts Wegner's previous statements about his weekend schedule. The opposition in the city parliament has already hinted at a possible resignation of the mayor.

'False Statements': Politicians' Reactions

The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) criticized the mayor's behavior, calling the accusations fair. Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD faction Dirk Wiese noted that the problem is not in sports activities, but in false statements.

'No one accuses a politician of playing sports to clear their head. But why then go out to the community with false statements - this I really cannot understand. This politics of slicing information into pieces, quite frankly, is never a good thing,' Wiese stated.

Wegner himself admitted his mistakes during a meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faction, acknowledging that he is 'upset about his own communication' and should be more transparent. Despite this, his party colleagues expressed their support for him.

Context of the Catastrophe

It is worth noting that the blackout in Berlin was significant. As a result of an alleged arson of a cable bridge by left-wing extremists, 45,000 households (approximately 100,000 people) were left without electricity. This outage became the longest in Berlin since World War II.

Currently, power supply has been restored, although utilities warn of potential network damage due to frost.

It is also noted that a Russian trace has been identified in the Berlin sabotage. In a letter where the left-wing extremist group claimed responsibility for this sabotage, 'unusual language and phrasing' was used.

This situation demonstrates how the actions of public officials can affect society, especially in times of crisis. The reactions of politicians and the public emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability in city management, particularly during emergencies. At the same time, the course of events surrounding the sabotage serves as another testament to the growing threats to energy infrastructure, necessitating serious analysis and appropriate security measures in the future.