Düsseldorf (dpa/lnw) – In the midst of new revelations about a stay in Mallorca by Environment Minister Ursula Heinen-Esser (CDU) during the flood, the state parliament’s investigative committee on the flood disaster has presented its interim report. Chairman Ralf Witzel (FDP) promised on Thursday in the last regular plenary session before the state elections that he would do everything possible to bring “the truth to light” when dealing with the flood. Since he is committed to neutrality, it is forbidden to evaluate all the revelations of the last few weeks, “even if that is sometimes difficult as a person who thinks and acts politically,” said Witzel.
Heinen-Esser had previously confirmed a joint meeting with several cabinet members in Mallorca a few days after the flood disaster in July 2021. Minister of Construction Ina Scharrenbach (CDU), Minister for Europe Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner (CDU) and then Secretary of State for Integration Serap Güler (CDU) took part in the “dinner” on the Mediterranean island.
Witzel once again made the full extent of the flood clear. With 180 cities and municipalities, almost half of the municipalities in NRW were affected by the flood. 49 people lost their lives. The committee owes you a “complete clarification of all causes and responsibilities”. The flood of the century on July 14 and 15, 2021 brought “unimaginable suffering and devastation”. The reconstruction work, estimated at 13 billion euros, would take many years. “The suffering of the injured will remain forever, unfortunately,” said Witzel.
The interim report comprises 1,161 pages, of which more than 1,000 contain the verbatim statements of the 27 witnesses questioned so far. There is no evaluation of the statements – apart from the dissenting vote presented by the SPD and the Greens.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220407-99-832534/2
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