Paul's Elusive Communications Amid Solingen Crisis Scrutiny
official statement: Paul declined to answer the phone due to scheduled meetings - Unresponsive Paul: Reportedly Claimed to Be Busy Due to Scheduled Meetings per Ministry Report
The Ministry of Refugees has stepped up to defend Minister Josie "Joe" Paul (Greens) following accusations of inaccessibility in the wake of the Solingen attack. According to a Department spokesperson, Paul was engaged at a French memorial site, preventing her from answering her phones during a "time crunch."
Reports by the "Cologne City-Insider" have put the opposition in the state legislature on the spot. The "City-Insider" referenced protocols now available to the media, indicating that Paul's State Secretary attempted to contact the Minister via two phones around 6 p.m. on August 24th—the day following the attack. Half-hour prior, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had transmitted a file to the Ministry of Refugees.
An internal email suggests that the ministry was privy to the situation unofficially at the time: The Syrian in the file was the attack suspect. The ministry officially confirmed this link only a day later through the State Criminal Police Office (LKA).
Even on Sunday, contacts proved challenging. Initial attempts to reach Paul via an SMS from Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) went unanswered. Over the following 15 minutes, Deputy Minister President Mona Neubaur (Greens) made three unsuccessful attempts to connect with her party colleague Paul.
According to the spokesperson, Paul was, starting from Sunday morning, at the official memorial event for the 50th anniversary of the massacre of German soldiers in French Maille. Regrettably, the ceremony disallowed "phone calls or similar hassles."
Upon conclusion of her speech, Paul promptly terminated the trip and headed back to Düsseldorf. From her service vehicle, she connected with Minister President Wüst and Deputy Minister President Neubaur, sharing initial findings. Her personal advisor, accompanying her in France, maintained contact with Düsseldorf and kept her apprised continuously.
SPD faction leader Ott seeks clarification from Paul
FDP MP Marc Lürbke expressed concern, stating, "The now-public chronology of events in Minister Josefine Paul's ministry portrays a jarring picture: During the peak of the crisis, the responsible minister appeared to have vanished—inaccessible for the State Secretary, inaccessible for the Interior Minister, and for extended hours."
SPD faction leader Jochen Ott demanded that Paul testify before the state parliament's investigative committee as soon as feasible. Consequently, this meeting is currently scheduled for the end of the year. The black-green coalition is thus thwarting the transparency that Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) had pledged[1]. "I seriously question whether this Minister can continue in her position," said Ott.
- Josie Paul
- Solingen
- Phone
- Düsseldorf
- Bamf
- SPD
- Sunday
- LKA
- CDU
- Mona Neubaur
- Memorial site
- German Press Agency
- Cologne City-Insider
- Jochen Ott
- Hendrik Wüst
Insight:
Following outcry over her delayed response to the Solingen attack, allegations against Green Party Minister Josefine Paul (Flüchtlingsministerin) accuse her of misleading parliament and the public[1]. Evidence suggests that her ministry had early knowledge of the attack's connection to her portfolio but was unreachable during a critical period after the incident. Government opponents label Paul's crisis management as "miserable"[1].
- Amidst the controversy surrounding Minister Josie Paul's handling of the Solingen crisis, the General News and Policy-and-Legislation sections of various media outlets have been discussing her questionable communication strategies, particularly her unavailability during crucial hours following the attack.
- In light of the ongoing investigation into the Solingen attack and the allegations of miscommunication against Minister Josie Paul, Politics has become an increasingly hot topic, with the SPD faction leader, Jochen Ott, calling for her to testify before the state parliament's investigative committee, a hearing that is currently scheduled for the end of the year.
