Dispute over crown measures: is the federal government taking action?

In the dispute over the correct course of action in the corona pandemic, the federal government is considering stronger intervention: Consider whether and how the federal government should establish uniform guidelines, according to a spokesperson.

According to a government spokesperson, the federal government is considering measures at the national level if states do not resolutely fight the corona pandemic. “Countries have all the tools at their disposal,” the spokesperson said. “At the same time, it is considering whether and how the federal government should establish uniform guidelines if the actions of the federal states are not enough to stop the third wave.”

The spokesperson did not comment on the time horizon of the considerations. However, he noted that many countries had already implemented additional measures. For example, Berlin has corrected its course and introduced limited night-out restrictions.

Merkel rebukes state governments

Chancellor Angela Merkel had last Sunday at the ARD shows Anne Will He said countries would have to “step up” in the fight against the pandemic. He criticized the easing of the steps and, at the same time, made it clear that the federal government, for example, by changing the Infection Protection Act, could take the initiative itself.

Meanwhile, the leader of the SPD parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, demanded concrete proposals from Merkel. If the chancellor wanted to act, “then I would like her not only to appear in ‘Anne Will’, but to present concrete and viable proposals,” she told the “Passauer Neue Presse.” He was “very surprised” by Merkel’s statements on the show.

Criticisms also from the Left Party

The chair of the left-wing party, Janine Wissler, said the federal government was “seeing with full conscience that even more people will become ill and die from the crown.” The time to appeal to the federal states has expired.

Specifically, Wissler required that the home office be mandatory and daily tests mandatory for all employees who cannot work at home. “It is completely incomprehensible that the federal government has so far done nothing to close this weak point in the fight against the pandemic.”

Thuringian Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) suggested replacing the current Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK) Corona crisis management with a permanent crisis team with representatives from the federal and state levels. The “disastrous” MPK a week and a half ago caused a great loss of confidence among the population, he wrote in a guest article for “Business Insider” magazine.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his understanding for the dissatisfaction of many citizens with the unclear crown policy of the federal and state governments. “Just as the pandemic demands a lot from you, you can also demand a lot from politics,” he said in a televised speech. “Your expectations of those in power are clear: gather together!”