Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner Defends Playing Tennis Amid Citywide Power Outage

January 8, 2026 8:29pm

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner faces criticism from SPD's Franziska Giffey for playing tennis during a major city power outage, prompting debates over political conduct in crises.

Key details

• Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner admitted to playing tennis during a major power outage.
• Franziska Giffey criticized Wegner, highlighting public confusion over his actions.
• Giffey stressed the need for transparency despite acknowledging breaks during crises.
• Wegner stated he was occupied with phone calls on Saturday but played tennis Sunday afternoon.

Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner sparked controversy by playing tennis during a significant power outage that affected the southwestern part of the city. The incident drew criticism from SPD's Berlin Senator for Economic Affairs, Franziska Giffey, who expressed confusion over Wegner's actions during the crisis. Speaking during a visit to a senior care facility in Zehlendorf, Giffey noted she received many perplexed reactions from the public, remarking, "I can’t quite understand it." While acknowledging that taking breaks is necessary during emergencies, she stressed the importance of transparency in such situations.

Wegner admitted to playing tennis on Sunday afternoon following a Saturday filled with phone calls related to the crisis. His defenders might highlight the need for breaks to maintain leadership stamina, but public response indicates concern over perceived disengagement during a critical moment.

The controversy underscores the political sensitivities tied to leaders' public behavior during emergencies. As Berlin navigates recovery from the outage, transparency and visible commitment from officials remain pivotal.

This article was translated and synthesized from German sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.