Berlin Mayor Faces Backlash for Tennis During Power Outage

Opposition parties in Berlin are demanding the resignation of Mayor Kai Wegner after he played tennis while the city endured a five-day power outage that left many residents without heating during freezing temperatures. The blackout, which affected approximately 45,000 households in southern Berlin, was reportedly triggered by an arson attack on an energy cable, a claim made by the militant group Vulkangruppe.

According to reports from German public broadcaster RBB, Wegner was informed of the power outage on Saturday but opted to play tennis with his partner, Katharina Günther-Wünsch, who serves as Berlin’s top education official. In an interview with Welt TV, Wegner stated, “I played tennis from 1 to 2 p.m. because I wanted to clear my head. I was reachable the whole time … my phone was on loud. I went straight back afterward and continued working.”

Contradicting his earlier statements, Wegner had told journalists on Sunday that he had been working from his home office during the outage. His mixed messages have drawn criticism from various political factions, including the far-left Die Linke and the far-right AfD. Tobias Schulze, leader of Die Linke in the state parliament, criticized Wegner’s decision to prioritize leisure over his responsibilities, stating, “The fact that Kai Wegner chose to go play tennis instead of traveling to the crisis area shows a lack of responsibility and a lack of empathy.”

Kristin Brinker, leader of the AfD’s Berlin parliamentary group, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Anyone who prefers leisure time in moments of crisis is in the wrong place. Mr. Wegner, you’ve lost this match. Take your hat.”

The impact of the blackout on residents was severe, with many homes left unheated as temperatures plummeted. Tragically, authorities confirmed that one woman was found dead in her home in the affected area, raising concerns about the blackout’s consequences. Wegner stated that it remains unclear whether the death was directly linked to the power outage.

In addition to the backlash over his tennis match, Wegner faced further scrutiny after a video surfaced on social media showing an angry resident confronting him about the decision to transfer care-dependent older residents to a gym as a temporary shelter. The city initially advised residents that they could book hotel rooms at a cost of €70 per night, but after widespread criticism, officials reversed this policy and began offering free accommodations.

As of Wednesday, power has been fully restored in the affected areas. The political ramifications of this incident could extend beyond immediate criticisms. Berlin is set to hold state elections in September, and even before the blackout, the CDU, Wegner’s party, was polling at around 22 percent, six points lower than its performance in the 2023 Berlin state election.

The fallout from this incident continues to unfold, with many questioning Wegner’s leadership and commitment to the city’s residents during a time of crisis.