The head of the SPD parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, reacted to the failure of a statutory corona vaccination requirement with sharp criticism of Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz (CDU). “I cannot understand why Mr. Merz did not authorize the vote with such a deep encroachment on fundamental rights,” said Mützenich of the Handelsblatt. The authors of the draft law for compulsory vaccination from the age of 60 would have built bridges to the end. “For party tactical considerations, the CDU/CSU in particular did not reach out, even though all prime ministers had recommended general vaccination.”
In this context, Mützenich accused the prime ministers of the CDU and CSU of having “obviously” stayed out of the internal Union discussion, although they too had recommended compulsory vaccination. “Good governance in the state looks different,” said the SPD politician.
At the same time, Mützenich defended Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) for surprisingly backing down on the planned corona isolation rules. “I find it very honorable when the Federal Minister of Health admits a mistake and thus puts himself in front of those who were involved in this decision,” he said. “After all, these were all 16 health ministers of the countries.”