{"id":48072,"date":"2026-08-22T16:46:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T16:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/2026\/08\/22\/vokietijos-kancleris-friedrichas-merzas-atvyko-i-misku-gaisro-vieta-pasitiko-svilpimas-ir-kritika\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T16:46:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T16:46:12","slug":"vokietijos-kancleris-friedrichas-merzas-atvyko-i-misku-gaisro-vieta-pasitiko-svilpimas-ir-kritika","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/2026\/08\/22\/vokietijos-kancleris-friedrichas-merzas-atvyko-i-misku-gaisro-vieta-pasitiko-svilpimas-ir-kritika\/","title":{"rendered":"Vokietijos kancleris Friedrichas Merzas atvyko \u012f mi\u0161k\u0173 gaisro viet\u0105: pasitiko \u0161vilpimas ir kritika"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbsp<a href=\"\/profiles\/3212\">Nela Heidner<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1787412497\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-08-22 17:28:17 +02:00\">22\/08\/2026 &#8211; 17:28 GMT+2<\/time>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\">\n    <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><\/p>\n<p>      <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/span><br \/>\n          <a class=\"c-article-share-comment__links c-article-share-comment__links__comments u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center\" href=\"#vuukle-comments-2919650\" data-event=\"comments-link-social-share\"><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n      <\/a><br \/>\n              <a 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data-adb-provider=\"whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2Fmy-europe%2F2026%2F08%2F22%2Fgerman-chancellor-merz-visits-hurtgen-forest-fire-site-amid-boos-and-whistles&amp;utm_source=Whatsapp&amp;utm_medium=Social\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on whatsapp\"><br \/>\n                            <span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><br \/>\n                                      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                    <span>Whatsapp<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <\/span><br \/>\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" 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The blaze on the German border is out, but ahead of his visit he faced opposition criticism for &#8216;doing nothing&#8217;.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\" style=\"--widget_related_list_trans: &#039;Related&#039;\">\n<p>It was his first public engagement after the summer break: Two days after the complete extinguishing of the forest fire in the H\u00fcrtgen Forest, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) visited the affected area today to thank the emergency services.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising mobile-content-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising adzone-block content-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Merz was met with boos and whistles. Numerous onlookers gathered on the village square where Merz arrived. At times the chancellor was barely audible, as his words were drowned out.<\/p>\n<p>A member of the H\u00fcrtgenwald volunteer fire brigade expressed anger at the loud reactions. &#8220;Those who are shouting and whistling should turn that negative energy into positive energy and become members of the fire brigade or of the THW,&#8221; said the firefighter.<\/p>\n<p>Merz said he had deliberately chosen to travel to H\u00fcrtgenwald-Gey only today. He had wanted to ensure that the emergency crews could work undisturbed. At the same time, he said, he had been continuously briefed on the situation and had asked the local authorities what support was needed to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"connatix-container\" data-connatix-state=\"reserved\" data-connatix-player-id=\"b4e54fcd-7d0c-4f47-81b1-1ac4eb4ebce7\" data-connatix-tag-targeting=\"other\">\n<div id=\"connatix-player\" data-ad-name=\"connatix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Merz was thus responding to criticism that he had arrived at the scene too late. &#8220;I am not impressed by those who stand there shouting,&#8221; Merz said. &#8220;I talk to the people who are not shouting, but who are working. I talk to those who help and to those who act in the interests of the community.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The chancellor described the large-scale forest fire in H\u00fcrtgenwald and the High Fens as a consequence of climate change. However, he did not spell out which concrete measures should be derived from this. He said he had come to Gey above all to thank the emergency services for their efforts and commitment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-euronews\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n<div class=\"auto widget__ratio widget__ratio--16x9\"><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier, during a visit to the forest, Merz had seen the scale of the damage for himself.<\/p>\n<h2>Largest forest fire in North Rhine-Westphalia&#8217;s history<\/h2>\n<p>The blaze broke out during the recent heatwave and spread rapidly because of the dry soils and woodland. According to North Rhine-Westphalia&#8217;s agriculture ministry, around 300 to 400 hectares of forest \u2013 equivalent to roughly 420 to 560 football pitches \u2013 were damaged or destroyed. The authorities described the fire as the largest forest fire in the history of North Rhine-Westphalia.<\/p>\n<p>At the height of the operation, around 1,400 emergency personnel and about ten firefighting helicopters were deployed. Four armoured vehicles were also used to cut firebreaks and support the firefighting efforts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n    <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n  <\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=\"\/2026\/08\/13\/wildfires-in-europe-is-2026-already-the-worst-year-on-record\">Wildfires in Europe: Is 2026 already the worst year on record?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The nearby village of Gey had to be evacuated at times. Around 1,800 people were affected. After about a week, the fire was finally extinguished completely.<\/p>\n<h3>Criticism of Merz&#8217;s late visit<\/h3>\n<p>Politically, the visit has sparked debate. While the forest fire was still raging, no member of the federal government was on the ground. Merz was on his summer holiday at the time, but said he was being regularly briefed on the situation.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, North Rhine-Westphalia&#8217;s state premier Hendrik W\u00fcst (CDU) interrupted his holiday and visited the affected area. Opposition politicians, especially from the Greens, criticised Merz&#8217;s decision not to travel to the region earlier.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government defended the chancellor, pointing out that he had been kept informed of developments during his holiday and could have intervened if needed.<\/p>\n<p>The issue is likely to remain relevant beyond the current forest fire. At next week&#8217;s cabinet retreat, topics will include heat protection, climate adaptation and how to deal with increasingly frequent extreme weather events.<\/p>\n<p>The cabinet retreat at Neuhardenberg Castle is scheduled for Tuesday, 25 August, on the federal government&#8217;s official calendar.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                  <a class=\"accessibility-bar__goto\" href=\"#accessibility-bar__menu\">Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\">\n    <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><\/p>\n<p>      <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/span><br \/>\n          <a class=\"c-article-share-comment__links c-article-share-comment__links__comments u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center\" href=\"#vuukle-comments-2919650\" data-event=\"comments-link-social-share\"><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n      <\/a><br \/>\n              <a class=\"c-article-share-comment__links c-article-share-comment__links__google u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=euronews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-event=\"google_preferred_source\"><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><br \/>\n      <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n                <a rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__link\" href=\"\/my-europe\/2026\/08\/22\/poland-man-who-ordered-300-pizzas-in-food-delivery-pranks-faces-up-to-eight-years-in-priso\" aria-label=\"Poland: Man who ordered 300 pizzas in food-delivery pranks faces up to eight years in prison \"><br \/>\n                  Poland: Man who ordered 300 pizzas in food-delivery pranks faces up to eight years in prison<br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n              <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n                <a rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__link\" href=\"\/my-europe\/2026\/08\/22\/france-to-give-new-interceptor-missiles-to-ukraine-macron-says\" aria-label=\"France to give new interceptor missiles to Ukraine, Macron says\"><br \/>\n                  France to give new interceptor missiles to Ukraine, Macron says<br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n              <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n                <a rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__link\" href=\"\/my-europe\/2026\/08\/22\/europes-devastating-wildfires-unveil-deadly-new-threat-buried-bombs-from-wwi-and-wwii\" aria-label=\"Europe&apos;s devastating wildfires unveil deadly new threat - buried bombs from WWI and WWII\"><br \/>\n                  Europe&#8217;s devastating wildfires unveil deadly new threat &#8211; buried bombs from WWI and WWII<br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n              <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  <a class=\"c-cta  \" href=\"\/tag\/north-rhine-westphalia\" aria-label=\"See more articles from the North Rhine Westphalia tag\">North Rhine Westphalia<\/a><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  <a class=\"c-cta  \" href=\"\/tag\/forest-fires\" aria-label=\"See more articles from the Forest fires tag\">Forest fires<\/a><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  <a class=\"c-cta  \" href=\"\/tag\/friedrich-merz\" aria-label=\"See more articles from the Friedrich Merz tag\">Friedrich Merz<\/a><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Friedrichas Merzas aplank\u0117 H\u00fcrtgeno mi\u0161ko gaisro nuniokot\u0105 vietov\u0119, ta\u010diau sulauk\u0117 \u0161vilpimo ir kritikos d\u0117l v\u0117lyvo atvykimo bei neai\u0161ki\u0173 sprendim\u0173.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":48073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[2684,5844,673,3698,37207,6650,30198],"miestas":[],"class_list":["post-48072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kultura","tag-evakuacija","tag-friedrichas-merzas","tag-klimato-kaita","tag-misku-gaisrai","tag-siaures-reino-vestfalija","tag-ugniagesiai","tag-vokietijos-politika"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48072"},{"taxonomy":"miestas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cp.snarskis.lt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/miestas?post=48072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}