German minister resigns amid criticism of holiday after floods

Germany's Family Minister Anne Spiegel submitted her resignation on Monday, succumbing to increasing pressure over a holiday she took last summer just days after floods devastated parts of western Germany, reported dpa.

The Green Party politician was environment minister in the regional government of Rhineland Palatinate at the time, before being called up to be family minister in the national coalition government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Rhineland Palatinate was the worst-hit state during the July 2021 floods, which claimed some 135 lives there.

"I am doing this in order to avoid any harm to the office, which faces major political challenges," she said in a statement announcing her decision, citing the "political pressure" on her.

Spiegel gave an emotional explanation on Sunday evening for why she took the holiday, citing it was necessary due to her husband's health - he had a stroke in 2019 - and the well-being of her children.

She apologized, but did not offer to resign at the time. With her voice faltering at times, Spiegel said the coronavirus pandemic had been an "insane challenge" for her family and "clearly left its mark" on her four children, who are of nursery and primary school age.

The holiday in France - which neighbours Rhineland Palatinate - was nevertheless an error, she said: "It was a mistake that we went on holiday for so long and I apologize for that mistake."

Greens party co-leader Omid Nouripour said on Monday he supported Spiegel's decision to resign. The party had the greatest respect for her courage and clarity, said co-leader Ricarda Lang.

They said they would soon put forward a successor as family minister in the coalition government.

Scholz himself, from the Social Democrats, said he had "great respect" for Spiegel.

The calls on Spiegel, who at 41 was the joint youngest member of Scholz's cabinet, came from the opposition immediately after her holiday was revealed in the Bild tabloid over the weekend.

A conservative regional minister in the neighbouring state of North Rhine Westphalia stepped down for similar reasons last week, and the opposition challenged Spiegel to take a similar step.

The pressure on her was compounded when Spiegel was forced to retract a previous statement that she took part in a cabinet meeting during her holiday. The event was in her diary, she later, but she had not taken part.

Spiegel said on Sunday she had always been available if someone needed to reach her, and had made work phone calls.

Following elections last autumn, Germany has been governed by a three-way coalition of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democrats.