Berlin mayor criticized for playing tennis during blackout
DW••world
Key Points:
- Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner faced criticism after revealing he played tennis on the first day of a major blackout that left tens of thousands without power, heating, and phone service in the city.
- The blackout, caused by an arson attack on a cable bridge, affected 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses, making it the longest blackout in Berlin's postwar history, lasting five days.
- Critics, including former mayor Walter Momper and SPD candidate Steffen Krach, condemned Wegner for not responding appropriately, initially withholding information about his tennis activity, and delaying visits to affected neighborhoods.
- Wegner defended his actions by citing poor connectivity for on-site coordination difficulties and emphasized that he remained reachable and continued working from
