Overview
- Reul told the Landtag interior committee on Thursday that he now speaks noticeably differently after a summer operation to treat a hand tremor and that doctors have not yet determined the exact cause of the speech change.
- He insisted he is "healthy and well" despite describing himself as "sprachlich etwas lädiert" and made the statement to counter growing speculation about his condition.
- Reul suggested he may have left hospital too quickly to respond to a large Hürtgenwald wildfire, offering that as a possible factor while noting this is unconfirmed.
- Members of the committee, including SPD politician Christina Kampmann, publicly wished him a speedy recovery and the session reportedly ended with applause across parties.
- At 74 and a long-serving Landtag member since 1985, Reul has signaled he may seek re-election in April 2027, a plan that observers say increases scrutiny of his health and will make medical updates and his ability to carry out duties items to watch.