A photo of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his desk caused amused comments on social networks. The reason for this is the equipment in his office, which is unusual for the Federal President.

In the photo, which the DPA news agency published on October 11, Steinmeier is apparently sitting in a bay window under a chandelier at a Biedermeier desk, with the head of state's standard behind him. Steinmeier is framed by several flowery curtains - according to a number of users, the entire scene does not want to suit the Federal President at all.

"Housing market in Berlin is a catastrophe, energy is becoming more and more expensive - even the Federal President has apparently moved back in with his mother...", writes one user and received more than 10,000 likes and retweets by Wednesday afternoon. Another asks: "Who is actually advising the Federal President on the curtain issue?" Or simply: "An office like a washing machine cover."

Others even suspect that the photo could have been manipulated or have doubts about the career choice of the interior designers at Bellevue Palace, the actually elegant and not so modest official residence of the Federal President.

But the explanation for the unusual office equipment is different: the photo was by no means taken in Bellevue Palace in Berlin or in the second official residence, the Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn, but in Neustrelitz in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, more precisely: in the "Villa am See". , which belongs to the Hotel "Alter Kornspeicher" at the city harbor.

Steinmeier conducted his official business from October 11 to 13 as part of his "local time Germany" trips from the residence city in the Mecklenburg Lake District district. By moving his official seat, he wants to "intensify the direct exchange with people all over the country," according to the Federal President's Office. Earlier this year he had already moved into quarters and offices in Rottweil (Baden-Württemberg), Quedlinburg (Saxony-Anhalt) and Altenburg (Thuringia).

"'Local time' is not a presidential flying visit: the Federal President is approachable and also seeks spontaneous encounters," the Office of the Federal President went on to explain. "He wants to find out what gives people courage and hope and what makes them skeptical about our democracy and its institutions. He wants to get a clearer picture of what drives people and also motivates them to take responsibility, and what this in turn means for political reasons can mean decision-makers."

According to the operator family, the Hotel "Alter Kornspeicher" was opened in 2014 in a former storage room. It promises "historic atmosphere" and "rustic comfort". A double room in the house costs from 90 euros per night. The "Villa am See" is located in a neighboring building. The hotel "Alter Kornspeicher" achieves top ratings on the popular booking portals.

The "local time" in Neustrelitz caused a stir on the Internet for another reason. A photo taken during the train journey from Berlin to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows the Federal President without mouth and nose protection, although wearing it on trains is mandatory. Steinmeier then explained that he did not wear his FFP2 mask for about 40 seconds because a short video had been shot. "I ask for your understanding and I'm sure many understand that too."

Sources: Office of the Federal President, Hotel "Alter Kornspeicher", Twitter, DPA news agency