
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday visited the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, which in July 2021 were hit by floods that claimed 49 lives in the state and 135 in neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate.
Material damage amounts to tens of billions of euros.
It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in German history, which also had an indirect effect on the 2021 election.
The image of CDU candidate (Merkel's former potential successor) Armin Lasset laughing as President Steinmeier expressed his grief over the disaster angered voters.
Conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has apologized following criticism online about him appearing to laugh in the background as German President Steinmeier gives a somber statement on help for flooding victims. pic.twitter.com/5QZLuDVRsO
— DW News (@dwnews) July 18, 2021
Armin Laschet apologized after the criticism, while President Steinmeier gave a somber statement about helping the victims.
During her visit to the region as chancellor, Mrs. Merkel had promised to return, even if she had left the government.
Merkel, accompanied by the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Henrik Wust, visited the reconstruction projects in Bad Münsterreifel and Oiskirchen, talked to the citizens and was informed about the progress of the repairs by the local authorities.

Later, in Cologne, he was awarded the highest state award.