German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced jeers and whistles during his visit to a region affected by forest fires, according to infohub.kz.
As reported by RIA Novosti, citing broadcaster WDR, on his first working day after vacation, the head of the German government visited the village of Gai in Hürtgenwald, near which a large forest fire had recently been extinguished. However, instead of gratitude from local residents, he encountered protesters.
According to WDR, Merz was met in the village with disapproving shouts and whistles. This was his first public event after the summer break. The Chancellor personally arrived in the forest to assess the extent of the damage. As he thanked emergency services for their work in containing the blaze, the crowd gathered in the village square made noise.
It is noted that a tanned Merz was booed in the village of Gai, whose residents had been evacuated due to the fires. According to local media, on August 14, the evacuation of the village with a population of about 1,800 people was reported due to a forest fire that covered nearly 25 hectares. Two days later, residents were allowed to return to their homes.