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Chancellor Angela Merkel: "We can do everything together and in a similar way."
Photo: Florian Gaertner / photothek.net / imago images / photothek
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) reacted cautiously to the proposal by Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) to hand over more powers to the federal government in the corona crisis.
Federalism has proven itself in this pandemic, "because it is possible to react much more specifically on-site," said Merkel.
The numbers rose in the current phase, albeit very differently from region to region.
It is therefore important "that the federal and state governments work closely together".
Important steps were taken last week at the meeting with the state heads of government.
There is still much to be done.
"We can do everything cooperatively and similarly. We should work on that, including the next steps that we have to take."
Before a switching conference of the CSU board in Nuremberg, the CSU boss had proposed that the federal government should have more rights in the fight against the virus.
Currently, many things are not going quickly and effectively enough for him.
"I'm a staunch federalist, but I believe that federalism is increasingly reaching its limits," said Söder.
The measures to protect against infection are largely incumbent on the federal states, which repeatedly leads to different regulations.
Most recently there was a dispute over the bans on accommodation for travelers from inner-German risk areas.
At a meeting between Merkel and the country leaders last Wednesday, however, the conflict was postponed until the beginning of November.
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mfh / dpa
