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14 of the 15 points have been verified; only schools are missing. The Chancellor insists, threatens, and yet cannot prevail against the states. It is also up to a man that conversations do not fail.
An analysis by Moritz Rödle, ARD capital studio
He has been negotiating for more than six hours when the already emotional discussion between the country’s leaders and the Chancellor threatens to overflow. Angela Merkel had previously tried for a long time to enforce her course and keep kindergartens and schools in general closed until at least February 14. But so far there has been no agreement.
At least eight federal states do not want to go beyond the agreements of the last federal-state negotiation round at this point and they do not agree to an extension of school closures. Among other things, he is concerned about final classes, which are in alternate classes in many places.
Minutes of the Chancellery?
For Merkel, other fears are central at the moment. He considers alternating lessons and, in his eyes, emergency care interpreted too broadly, is a danger. Now is the time for prevention to keep mutations from the even more contagious virus in check, he later said at the press conference. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically close schools and nurseries.
When the chancellor notices during the video change that she cannot be imposed, she threatens to write down the minutes. Merkel wants to state in writing on behalf of the Federal Chancellery that she considers it necessary for schools and nurseries to be essentially closed. At this point, that would mean the failure of a joint declaration by the federal and state governments.
The decision document is really ready. 14 out of 15 points have been scored, including the extension of the home office rule for employees who can. Merkel had resisted this for a long time, but in the end she agreed.
Everything threatens to fail
But because of the school problem, everything still threatens to fail. Merkel was stuck at this point, according to participants. The minister-presidents of countries with districts with a relatively low incidence do not want to be held jointly responsible for the high-risk districts in Saxony or Bavaria. According to several federal states, schools and nurseries should be able to open where the infection situation allows.
Merkel at the dead end
The CDU prime ministers also advise the chancellor to give in at this time. The solution: Merkel asks that the session be interrupted. Initially ten minutes are agreed. This will be over an hour. The negotiations take place behind the scenes. In addition to the two representatives of the SPD and the Union-led countries, Michael Müller from Berlin and Markus Söder from Bavaria, Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also looking for a way out of the impasse with Merkel.
Commitment to save face
In the end she gives up. The group agrees on an extension of the standards for schools and daycare centers, which have been in force since December 13 of last year. These should now be implemented more restrictively. Translated, this means: each country can continue its course. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, for example, wants to do this. But Baden-Württemberg, ruled by green and black, is also announcing that it will study opening schools in early February.
For Merkel, the engagement remains an opportunity to save face. The reference to the more restrictive interpretation of the rules can be seen as a gain. Even if the practical effect is doubtful.
CDU chief Laschet successfully moderates
Merkel also owes the fact that she did not collapse in the end with the new CDU president, Armin Laschet. Special attention is paid to it. It is the first opportunity to show how the NRW Prime Minister wants to lead in the future as head of the CDU. Participants say that he seemed released from a burden and seemed more self-assured than before. The head of the CDU was open to compromise and moderated the various interests well. This also led to the fact that the exchange between the federal states and the Federal Chancellor reached an agreement after all.
