“I’m at a loss for words”
Politicians don’t want “Schumi” to be an honorary citizen – Ralf gets in touch
12/17/2024 – 12:56 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Michael Schumacher is not only known in Germany. But politicians in Kerpen don’t want the seven-time F1 politician to be an honorary citizen – that makes brother Ralf angry.
Michael Schumacher is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion and, together with Lewis Hamilton, the record holder. The former Ferrari driver got his start on a kart track in Kerpen (North Rhine-Westphalia). His father was a tenant farmer. “Schumi” also went to secondary school in Kerpen and married his wife Corinna in the city. There was a lot of discussion in Kerpen about whether the racing legend should be made an honorary citizen. But politicians in Kerpen decided against it.
Andreas Lipp (SPD) responded to a query from the “Kölner Stadtanzeiger” that it “currently makes no sense” to make Michael Schumacher an honorary citizen. Lipp probably also said that the city “simply has other construction sites”. Peter Abels (Greens) answered the “Stadtanzeiger”: “Where do you start with honorary citizenship and where do you end?”
For Ralf Schumacher these are outrageous answers. He posted a statement on his Instagram profile and explained angrily: “This is typical of Germany and our politics. Nothing about the SPD surprises me anymore. Performance is apparently no longer important. If you think about what my brother has done for Kerpen through his success “I’m just at a loss for words when it comes to something like that.”
Many supporters agreed with Ralf Schumacher. One person wrote: “Incredible, Michael made sport big in Germany and made your city known all over the world.” Another said: “This can only be a bad joke…” Another user said: “Michael has done enough for racing to be an honorary citizen in every German city.”
Onni Schlebusch commented: “The only reason why people know Kerpen is Michael and Ralf Schumacher.” Former German boxer Axel Schulz also wrote: “Incredible.”