Berlin – Is it game, set, and misstatement? Kai Wegner (53, CDU) may once again be facing scrutiny over a tennis match he played earlier this year. Has the Berlin mayor again been less than forthcoming with the truth?
The questions stem from Wegner’s handling of a major power outage that struck the Zehlendorf district on January 3rd, caused by an arson attack. Approximately 100,000 residents were left without electricity and heating for days during freezing temperatures. Although many criticized Wegner for not immediately appearing on the scene to address the crisis, his explanation involved a claim of being heavily engaged in coordinating the response from his home office.
However, Wegner initially omitted a key detail: that he spent part of the afternoon playing tennis with his partner, Katharina Günther-Wünsch (42, CDU). He later revealed the match, stating it was a way to “clear his head,” also citing his workload. Now, newly released information is casting further doubt on his account of events, according to reports from the Tagesspiegel.
Documents released by the Berlin Senate following a request from the Tagesspiegel, and reviewed by the court, reveal a timeline that contradicts Wegner’s previous statements. According to these records, Wegner was not engaged in calls with the Chancellery, Berlin power grid officials, or the Federal Minister of the Interior before his tennis match, as he had previously claimed. Instead, between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, he was “in communication with various parts of the Senate Chancellery, other members of the Senate, and parts of the crisis team.”
The timeline shows that Wegner first contacted Senator for the Interior Iris Spranger (64, SPD) at approximately 8:50 AM. He then spoke with former Mayor Franziska Giffey (47, SPD) around 12:45 PM, just fifteen minutes before his scheduled tennis match. Information suggests Giffey had attempted to reach Wegner earlier in the morning but was initially unable to connect with him. Wegner maintained his phone was on and reachable throughout the day, including during the tennis match.
This isn’t the first time Wegner’s account of his actions during the crisis has approach under scrutiny. The initial criticism centered on his absence from the affected area, with many questioning why he didn’t prioritize visiting Zehlendorf to assess the situation firsthand. His subsequent explanation, coupled with the revelation of the tennis match, fueled accusations of a lack of seriousness and a disconnect from the struggles of those impacted by the power outage.
Kai Wegner, currently serving as Governing Mayor of Berlin, has had a varied political career. According to Wikipedia, he was born in West Berlin in 1972 and has served in both the German Bundestag and the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin. He became Governing Mayor on April 27, 2023. The latest questions surrounding his account of the power outage response add to a growing narrative of scrutiny regarding his leadership and transparency.
The situation raises questions about accountability and the importance of accurate communication during times of crisis. For residents of Zehlendorf, still grappling with the aftermath of the outage, the revelations are likely to deepen concerns about the responsiveness of their elected officials. The incident also highlights the intense political pressure faced by leaders in major cities like Berlin, where swift and decisive action is often expected in the face of emergencies.
As of today, March 17, 2026, Wegner has not issued a further statement addressing the newly released information. The Berlin Senate is expected to provide further details on the investigation into the power outage and the mayor’s response in the coming days. The next scheduled session of the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin is on March 24th, where this issue is likely to be raised during question period.
Readers can stay updated on this developing story through official announcements from the Berlin Senate (https://www.berlin.de/en/) and reports from reputable news organizations like the Tagesspiegel and Reuters.
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