BERLIN: Germany’s economy minister fell badly as he left the stage Tuesday during an event at which he was due to present a European digital cloud project.
Peter Altmaier tripped on the steps and appeared to fall head-first as he left the stage after giving a speech at the event in Dortmund. He lay on the ground and was quickly surrounded by helpers.
News agency dpa reported, without naming sources, that Altmaier briefly lost consciousness but came around at the scene. He had a cut on his head and was taken to a hospital for checks.
Altmaier, 61, has been Germany’s economy minister since March last year. He was previously Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff and her environment minister.
A member of her center-right Christian Democratic Union, he has long been a close ally of the German leader.
“What a shock,” Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, tweeted in a message to Altmaier. “All of us in the German government wish you a good recovery with all our heart.”
Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “We will hopefully see each other in the Cabinet very soon.”
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