Flood in the Ahr Valley | Jürgen Pföhler: District Administrator as "System Crasher"

Jürgen Pföhler shaped the fortunes of the Ahrweiler district for over two decades: From February 2000 until his retirement in August 2021, he served as district administrator, directly elected several times, and engaged in a wide range of activities in the region. The flood disaster of July 2021 , in which 135 people died in Rhineland-Palatinate alone, made Pföhler known nationwide. On September 3, 2025, the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior announced that it had reduced the former district administrator's pension by one-third. Under disciplinary law, the authorities found "serious breaches of duty" during the disaster, in particular inadequate crisis management and a lack of presence on the night of the disaster.

The investigations of the investigative committee and statements from helpers documented that Pföhler failed to adequately perform key tasks as head of disaster control on the evening of the flood, was unavailable on several occasions, and did not directly lead the operation for extended periods. He was also criticized for temporarily tending to his private property instead of coordinating measures to protect the population. The state of emergency was declared very late – at a time when many people's lives were already in danger. One expert called Pföhler a "system breaker."

The Koblenz public prosecutor's office initiated an investigation against Pföhler, but discontinued it in 2024 because criminal conduct could not be proven . For many of those affected by the floods, Pföhler's name remains inextricably linked to the events of that night. The fact that he now has to forgo part of his pension is little consolation for them.