Merkel's heir apparent apologises after laughing during flood zone visit
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Mr Armin Laschet (centre) laughing while German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (not pictured) delivered a speech in Erftstadt last Saturday.
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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BERLIN • Germany's election front runner apologised after video images captured him laughing while the country's President was promising aid to victims of floods that have killed at least 157 people.
It is a potential embarrassment for Mr Armin Laschet, who heads Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing conservative party and is its candidate to succeed her in the Sept 26 election.
He said he regretted "the impression created by a conversational situation" last Saturday.
Mr Laschet was caught on video standing with a group of officials some distance behind German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier while they were visiting Erftstadt, a town devastated by floods last week.
While Mr Steinmeier appeared to search for words to express sorrow and promise aid, Mr Laschet chatted with his own delegation and at one point burst into laughter.
"This was inappropriate and I am sorry," Mr Laschet said on Twitter after political rivals and people on social media criticised him.
Mr Laschet, a Christian Democrat, was on home turf in North Rhine-Westphalia, a state that has the second-highest regional death toll from the floods.
While Dr Merkel's Christian Democratic-led party bloc is leading the opposition Green party in the polls, Mr Laschet is likely to need support from a coalition partner to govern with a parliamentary majority even if his bloc wins the most votes in September.
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