Even after two months, many find it difficult to adhere to the corona rules. Politicians are no exception. Sometimes the mask sits incorrectly or not at all on the face, sometimes the distance is too small. And sometimes the criticism is just a lot of ado about nothing.
Berlin (dpa) - keep your distance, wear a mask and, despite the easing, do not become reckless - the requirements of politics are clear, but even after almost two months in the Corona state of emergency, it is not easy for anyone to stick to it.
The vast majority of politicians set a good example every day. Occasionally, however, a faux pas happens to them, which shows that the situation is getting used to for them too.
JENS SPAHN: Apparently even the Minister of Health does not always find it easy to keep his distance. This was also the case in mid-April when a photo of the CDU man, together with other politicians, caused a sensation in a full elevator in a Gießen hospital. In retrospect, Spahn said insightfully, even when wearing a face mask, it is important to keep your distance. Everyone would have decided not to get into the elevator at the same time - "and then it happens sometimes". It is exactly the things of everyday life, "where we all have to stay disciplined for the next few weeks and months".
CHRISTIAN LINDNER: A photo of the FDP boss recently made the round. Then you could see him hugging a friend in front of a restaurant over the weekend. "The spontaneous hug at the farewell on Friday was a mistake that happens among friends after a private evening," Lindner commented on the incident and apologized. It was not an intention, but lack of concentration. "In the end you stay human." For the honest reaction, Lindner received approval across the party borders. Juso boss Kevin Kühnert wrote on Twitter: "If you want to be represented by people and not by political machines, you will have to accept mistakes." A confident handling of these mistakes is essential and Lindner has now shown how this can be done. "Strong!"
FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER: Wear a mask, keep your distance - this was a matter of course for the Federal President when he visited the Corona Reserve Hospital in Berlin last week. With a view to some conspiracy theorists, he explained there "that from the point of view of virus protection, the sometimes uncomfortable and annoying mouthguard is more recommendable than the aluminum hat". Steinmeier took off his mask only for a statement and the journalist's questions after the tour - with plenty of distance. The response of the conspiracy theorists came immediately: a manipulative cut sequence of the appearance circulated on the web together with the grotesque accusation that Steinmeier had worn the mouthguard only for photographers and cameramen.
HEIKO MAAS: Not everyone liked the fact that the Foreign Minister got back on a government plane on Saturday after a ten-week break. There were hundreds of critical and malicious comments on Twitter. The distance rules were adhered to on the flight from Berlin to Saarbrücken, from where it continued by column in the Luxembourgish Schengen. Of the 40 seats, only 13 were filled. When entering, fever was measured and Maas wore mouth-nose protection.
MICHAEL KRETSCHMER: When he opposed the corona measures at a demonstration in Dresden, it was difficult for Saxony's prime ministers to keep the minimum distance. He himself repeatedly pointed this out, but those present surrounded him in a crowd. Kretschmer also did not wear a mouth-nose mask - because the demonstrators rejected such a mouthguard. After criticizing his behavior, the CDU politician said: "I wanted to get an idea of the mood and respect when people have a different opinion."
ANNEGRET KRAMP-KARRENBAUER: At the end of April, it also rained criticism for the Minister of Defense. At a press appointment for the delivery of protective clothing from China, the CDU boss made a statement without a mask. There had been a crush. The Ministry later apologized and admitted: "It can be done better."
ARMIN LASCHET: North Rhine-Westphalia's prime minister also had problems with the mask. At a press event in late March, his nose looked out of the face mask. After scorn in the social networks, the candidate reacted ironically to the CDU chairmanship. He posted a video on Twitter showing how to put on the protective mask correctly. He wrote: "NRW can do it. I can do it too."
ANGELA MERKEL: So far, the Chancellor has been paying particular attention to the distance rules in public. It is quite possible that this is also due to the fact that she had to go into quarantine for two weeks even at the very beginning of the crisis, after receiving a routine vaccination from a doctor who shortly thereafter was found to have contracted the virus. Tests had then shown that Merkel herself had not been infected.
The Chancellery had previously restricted admission to press conferences to 15 writing correspondents and a few photographers and camera teams - Merkel never came close to the journalists. For months, conferences with international partners have only been running via video or telephone. And the regular cabinet meetings take place in the large international conference room and no longer in the cabinet room because of the distance rules. Merkel has also exchanged her sedan for a more spacious VW bus - also because of the distance rules.
Laschet video on Twitter
