MPK on Corona, flood relief and gambling

The corona pandemic has already dominated numerous conferences and special meetings of the German prime ministers.

It should also be the focus of their annual meeting in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The host is Armin Laschet, who will be there for the last time.

Königswinter - The heads of government of the federal states are meeting today for their annual conference at Schloss Drachenburg in Königswinter, North Rhine-Westphalia.

The fight against the corona pandemic and its social and economic consequences will be a key topic of the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK).

According to a provisional agenda, the country bosses want to deal, among other things, with tightening penalties for forged vaccination passports and test certificates during their two-day deliberations.

In view of the increasing number of cases, the Justice Ministers' Conference asked the Federal Justice Minister to draw up a corresponding bill in June.

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) this week expressed the expectation that the MPK would reach a consensus on the reintroduction of compulsory insurance for all building owners to cover damage caused by natural forces.

The topic will probably be handed over to the Conference of Justice Ministers in order to clarify European law issues.

In addition, a balance sheet of the national flood aid after the 2013 flood is to be discussed at the annual conference.

The topic of gambling is also on the agenda.

On July 1st, a new state gambling treaty came into force, which gave the go-ahead for online casinos nationwide.

Critics fear growing dangers of addiction.

NRW took over the chairmanship of the MPK from Berlin on a rotating basis at the beginning of October.

The results of the annual conference are to be presented on Friday afternoon by the outgoing North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) and the deputy chairman of the MPK, Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD).

also read

Hendrik Wüst is to become Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia

The die has been cast: NRW Transport Minister Wüst is to inherit Armin Laschet as Prime Minister and CDU state party leader.

“A doer”, Laschet advertises in front of the party committees.

Hendrik Wüst is to become Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia

NRW state parliament celebrates its 75th anniversary

The state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia is 75 years old.

This is celebrated in plenary with political speeches and poetry.

The outgoing Prime Minister Laschet will also give a speech.

NRW state parliament celebrates its 75th anniversary

Wüst is to become Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia

The die has been cast: NRW Transport Minister Wüst is to inherit Armin Laschet as Prime Minister and CDU state party leader.

“A doer”, Laschet advertises in front of the party committees.

Wüst is to become Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia

In the run-up to the conference, Laschet said that the corona pandemic had made the weaknesses of the state and its administration visible as if under a magnifying glass.

Lessons would have to be learned from this and the “pandemic-induced digitization boost” would have to be used to “make Germany more modern and more crisis-proof”.

dpa