The acting Federal Minister of Health debated the changes to the Infection Protection Act in the Bundestag on Thursday.
(Photo: Reuters)
The stumbling block of the traffic light coalition in the fight against corona offers plenty of cause for criticism. The CDU and CSU, however, are currently slipping into dishonesty in their attacks. The Union is less concerned with naming the mistakes of the SPD, FDP and the Greens than with distracting them from their own.
One can consider the expiry of the “epidemic situation” to be a mistake. But then you shouldn’t forget that it was the acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn from the CDU who was the first to speak out in favor of it. So not only the traffic light parties were surprised by the violence of the fourth wave, but also the Union itself.
In the meantime, the SPD, FDP and the Greens have improved their bill. The North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst still threatens to block the project in the Federal Council. The Union uses the dispute over the legal construct of the epidemic situation to paint a picture of the irresponsibility of the traffic light parties.
Only criticism, no constructive solutions
That is hypocritical because, on the other hand, the Union is afraid to explain openly why it wants to hold on to the epidemic situation and why the sharpened traffic light law is not enough for it. What measures exactly does she want to use that would not be possible through the expanded Infection Protection Act? Does she want to close restaurants, sports clubs and schools again? The Union does not want an answer.
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In any case, the Prime Ministers currently have every opportunity to act. The fact that they have been reluctant to make use of this is not the fault of a new federal government that is not yet in office. Nor is it responsible for the fact that Germany stumbled into this Corona autumn unprepared.
It was the Union’s candidate for chancellor, Armin Laschet, who did not want to talk about how the vaccination rate could be increased during the election campaign: that could be discussed in the autumn if necessary.
The federal and state governments failed to advance the vaccination campaign in the summer. It was also you who watched as the number of available intensive care beds steadily decreased. And again they implemented protective measures for old people’s and nursing homes too late.
Attempts to catch up are now being made very late. The Union should participate constructively in this. Otherwise, given her own failures in the fight against corona, a little humility would be good for her.
More: Vaccination compulsory, home office, 2G rule for leisure activities: the federal and state governments advise on a tougher course