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BChancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is putting massive pressure on countries to persuade them to implement the emergency brake and even tougher measures in light of the third corona wave. On Sunday night on the ARD show “Anne Will”, she also explicitly mentioned exit restrictions in regions with particularly high numbers of infections: “Exit restrictions can be a very effective means.”
Merkel spoke out against a new conference of prime ministers. “We don’t need a Prime Minister’s Conference, we need action in the federal states.” He clearly rejected all the relaxation plans planned by the federal states, including the so-called model projects.
In the program, he noted that 700 more intensive care beds have been occupied since the beginning of March. “We don’t have much time left,” Merkel warned. “In any case, I will not watch that we have 100,000 infected”
Merkel also indicated that the federal government could act if the states did not take the necessary measures. “Now we have to take the appropriate measures very seriously. And some federal states are doing it, others are not doing it yet. ” If that doesn’t happen “in the very foreseeable future,” you’d have to think about how this could be regulated at the national level. “This is my oath in office, this is my obligation.”
One possibility is to change the Infection Protection Act and “say very specifically what has to happen in which case,” he said.
Merkel emphasized that she was still thinking about it and had not made a final decision yet. Furthermore, majorities in the Bundestag and Bundesrat are required for all decisions. The federal and state governments must act together. “We cannot decide anything without the other.” But: “We are required by law to slow down the infection process. And at the moment the containment is not there. “
Merkel speaks of a “caesura”
Merkel called the Prime Minister’s Evening Conference from Monday to Tuesday, with the decision on the Easter break, which was then quickly withdrawn, a “turning point” and emphasized: “It cannot continue like this now, we meet every four weeks and keep doing the same. ” Many prime ministers would see it that way too.
Merkel said the gradual initial steps agreed to in early March were a compromise. “A good faith commitment that the emergency brake will actually be implemented. If you don’t do it now, it is, so to speak, a violation of the decisions we have made. “
Previous resolutions with the prime minister provided all the necessary instruments, Merkel said. He referred to other contact restrictions, exit restrictions, and the obligation for employers to provide home office whenever possible. Overlooking the Saarland, where the whole country will be opened after Easter, Merkel pointed out that the infection figures there are not stable. This was a “very bold announcement” from Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU), for which she “was not so happy.” Currently is not the time to “consider something like this now.”
Merkel also criticized the decisions of the Berlin Senate. “I really don’t know right now if testing and walking, as it is called now in Berlin, is the correct answer to what is currently happening.” Instead of retracting the relaxation, the Berlin state government decided to expand the tests. As of Wednesday, a negative corona test is required for every Berliner in order to shop in stores.
Merkel calls MPs’ mask deals “outrageous”
Merkel called for more flexibility in vaccination. “If there are three cans left at night, you have to vaccinate them,” he said.
The chancellor strongly condemned the business of various members of the Union’s parliamentary group in the so-called mask affair. What happened “is completely unacceptable and outrageous.” The fact that these are members of the Union “particularly hurts.” But now “the necessary conclusions have been drawn.”
At the same time, he warned his fellow party members: “The CDU has no legal right to the Chancellery.” But he believes that “the Union has the potential to provide good answers to questions that arise.”
