What is the correct way to deal with the corona crisis? Chancellor Angela Merkel takes the federal states to her chest and warns of a further spread of the pandemic.
- The federal states are already relaxing the corona measures .
- Angela Merkel is concerned about some of the implementations - the Chancellor urges caution.
- She sees Germany only at the "beginning of the coronavirus pandemic ".
Berlin - The Chancellor has criticized the measures taken by some federal states to relax the corona protective measures . Angela Merkel is supporting the federal-state resolutions from last week to cautiously relax the measures, said the Union politician in a government statement in the Bundestag (click here for the ticker). "But I have been worried about its implementation since then. It seems very brisk to me, not to say brisk."
In her criticism, Merkel emphasized that she respected the sovereignty of the countries "with complete conviction" when making decisions to fight infections . "Nevertheless, I see it as my duty to warn not to trust the principle of hope if I am not convinced of it."
Angela Merkel on Corona: "This interim success is fragile"
The pandemic is still just beginning, curbing the spread of the virus is at best an "intermediate success," said Angela Merkel on Thursday. "I feel obliged to say that this intermediate success is fragile, we are walking on the thinnest ice." The easing of the protective measures must be done very carefully to avoid "switching from one shutdown to the next".
Once again, the Chancellor urged citizens to be patient and disciplined : "The more persistent and consistent we endure the restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic, the more we serve not only human health, but also economic life."
Shortly before the deliberations of the EU heads of state and government, Merkel was also ready to make higher payments to the EU budget to deal with the consequences of the corona pandemic. For a limited time, "we should make significantly higher contributions to the European budget," she said. Europe is "a community of fate - Europe must now prove this in this unexpected challenge of the pandemic".
Corona pandemic soon to be overcome? Merkel announces shock
The Chancellor made it clear that the Corona pandemic is Germany's worst test since the Second World War . "We are experiencing extraordinary times," she said. The country and Europe face a "gigantic challenge". "Nobody likes to hear that: we don't live in the final phase of this pandemic, but at the beginning," emphasized the Chancellor. "We will have to live with it for a long time."
Merkel also pointed out that funds had been made available to deal with the crisis at a level never seen before. The decisions to restrict freedom rights were very difficult for her. It was clear to her that the restrictions were a "democratic imposition". Criticism and contradiction are allowed and should be heard.
AFP / PF
