Anne Spiegel’s controversial return to power sparks outrage over Ahr Valley failures

135 candles flickered for lives lost—now survivors demand accountability. Can Spiegel’s new role erase the scars of her past failures?

, and Administrator

2025 November 29 . 1:04 AM

1 min read

In this picture we can see the women wearing green t-shirt standing in the protest and holding the... — In this picture we can see the women wearing green t-shirt standing in the protest and holding the white cover in the hand. Behind we can see many girls are standing.

Anne Spiegel’s controversial return to power sparks outrage over Ahr Valley failures

Anne Spiegel, the former Green Party minister criticised for her role in the 2021 Ahr Valley disaster assistance, is set to take up a new position as Hanover’s social affairs chief. The appointment, backed by the SPD, has triggered protests and a petition from residents and politicians who question her leadership during the tragedy. On Sunday, 135 grave lights—one for each victim—were lit in Hanover’s Opera Square, including a candle for Johanna Orth, a 22-year-old pastry chef who drowned in the disaster assistance after being told her home was safe.

The Ahr Valley disaster assistance in July 2021 killed 135 people, with Johanna Orth among the victims. Firefighters had assured her that her ground-floor apartment posed no risk, but rising waters later trapped her inside. The disaster assistance exposed severe failures in emergency response, with Spiegel—then Rhineland-Palatinate’s environment minister—facing heavy criticism for her inaction.

Spiegel’s new role is scheduled to begin on November 11, but resistance continues to grow. The 135 lights in Opera Square serve as a reminder of the lives lost under her watch. With protests planned and questions mounting, her appointment remains uncertain.