Corona-Aus for the New Year’s fireworks? The debate in the German metropolises is already underway

Berlin / Cologne – On the pros and cons of the traditional. New year fireworks It has been discussed for years. Of all things, the corona virus could give new impetus to the debate: in two German cities with a population of more than one, it is already being quite specific Out for the New Years jokes spoken. One Neighboring Germany it has even made it really difficult.

Crown-off for fireworks? The Netherlands has already decided: Cologne is specifically thinking about a ban.

While the federal and state governments want to stick with the new crown rules for now, a pandemic-related ban could be added elsewhere. One of the scenarios of the dispute is Suburb. “This year many things are being put to the test, including the New Year’s Eve fireworks,” a spokesman for the Rhine metropolis said at the weekend. WDR.

A little further west, the ban on fireworks is already a reality. the Netherlands decided on a corresponding rule on Friday. This should prevent Doctors and nurses I would also have to take care of the people who hurt fireworksdeclared the government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Both the sale and the lighting of fireworks are prohibited.

So get the border towns in North Rhine-Westphalia empty. On the one hand, German traders could benefit from the ban. On the other hand, there could be firecracker tourism across the border on New Years Eve. the City and Municipal Association of North Rhine-Westphalia however, he came out against a blanket ban. “We can get big parties out of our heads, that’s for sure. But that’s why we shouldn’t ban the burning of fireworks across the country, ”President Roland Schäfer said aloud. wade*.

Corona: New Year’s fireworks ban? Advance also in Berlin – SPD is skeptical

But there is also a dispute in Sedan. The leader of the group of the Greens in the House of Representatives, Antje Kapek, tweeted on Saturday that “Berlin and Germany” should follow the example of the Netherlands. “Our hospitals already have Covid-19. That’s enough, ”he explained. the Vegetables are the ruling party in the city-state, along with SPD Y left.

While the Berlin Greens have long been looking critically at the explosive New Year’s Eve, the SPD was skeptical of the new initiative. “A blanket New Year’s Eve ban would mean that we would completely take the fun out of people. I am skeptical that this is not an overreaction, “said MP Frank Zimmermann. Daily mirror.

Corona brings dispute over New Year’s fireworks: Greens in Bavaria and environmental aid for ban: CDU and FDP brake

The debate could also become a topic in Bayern. “I support you with all my heart!” He wrote Leader of the state parliamentary group Katharina Schulze on Twitter in response to Kapek’s move. Does it work similar to in NRW, but there should be resistance from Conservatives and Liberals give.

“For months we have been asked in politics what we want or have to cancel: Bundesliga, festivals, San Martín, carnival,” said the CDU health expert in the local state parliament. Peter preuss: “I can assure you: nobody wants to prohibit the change of year.” The leader of the FDP parliamentary group, Christof Rasche, said he thought the ban was “excessive”.

For a fireworks stop, however, it is still the German environmental aid. The arguments against fireworks and for a New Year’s Eve without firecrackers are “overwhelming,” he said. Federal Director General Jürgen Resch Beginning of the month. “Along with Covid-19” they are “even more alarming.” The association demanded all German municipalities on “exhausting all existing possibilities to ban private fireworks.” (fn)