"Full cannon fear": Söder only "Ego-Shooter" in the crisis? Greens issue bitter Corona testimony

Markus Söder is considered the political winner of the Corona crisis.

But the opposition attests to massive omissions.

Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Schulze even sees democracy in Bavaria in danger.

Munich

- Bavaria's

can still feel like a big poll winner of the Corona crisis - and as the preferred chancellor of many conservative voters in the country.

But especially in Bavaria, the number of infections is skyrocketing these days.

And criticism of political errors and omissions in the Free State is also increasing.

Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Schulze

has expressed very fundamental criticism of Söder's style in the crisis.

In an interview with

, she

: Her list of shortcomings for the

and

is long.

Söder's government has so far failed to make important data on corona infections accessible, to give the democrats in the country further

or to support the health authorities.

And of course Söder does not get off scot-free either - the CSU boss is stuck with an old political style, says Schulze, and he may also make the voters “foolish”.

It is not an application for higher orders, she clarifies.

On Tuesday afternoon, Söder will give his next big press conference.

Söder as an "ego shooter" in the Corona crisis: Green parliamentary leader Katharina Schulze in an interview

Merkur.de: Last week you expressed harsh criticism of Markus Söder's corona course in the Bavarian state parliament.

Among other things, you miss “self-determination” for Bavaria.

An interesting catchphrase - what do you think self-determination should look like in the pandemic?

Katharina Schulze:

In my view of man, every citizen is a self-determined being - for me that includes personal responsibility.

I am firmly convinced that we can only get down the curve sufficiently if everyone in Bavaria - even if it's annoying, and I can absolutely understand that, I feel the same way - reduced contacts for the big picture, wears a mask, distance and observes the hygiene rules.

Markus Söder likes to be reprimanding and say what to do and what not to do.

But he lacks the empathy, the taking away, the making clear: Why is this measure necessary and the other not.

The best example is the ban on accommodation.

Anyone with common sense was confused by this.

Why is a visitor from a Bavarian hotspot allowed to stay in a Bavarian hotel, but not a citizen from a non-Bavarian hotspot?

The virus doesn't really care whether someone comes from Berlin, Hamburg or Munich and then goes on vacation in the Bavarian Forest.

In response to Markus Söder's government statement, you also emphasized that you want clear rules.

But it is difficult to deny him a clear address.

Where does your criticism begin?

You have to take a closer look at Markus Söder.

He always presents himself as a tough, fast, loud crisis manager.

Nevertheless, we in Bavaria have one of the highest values ​​for new infections in Germany - and we have the most corona deaths in the country.

In my eyes, Markus Söder is stuck with an old style of politics: being louder than others, being against others.

But we can only defeat Corona together.

This also includes explaining measures based on scientific criteria.

The longer this pandemic lasts, the more we know about the virus.

In the spring it was said that we are going to shut everything down first.

But in the meantime we have learned a lot - the government should use this knowledge and clearly derive its measures. 

Markus Söder: "Okay, Mr Crisis Manager, ..." - the leader of the Greens parliamentary group sees a blockade that threatens democracy

Where is this step missing?

An example: Last week I asked my parliamentary group colleague Max Deisenhofer to find out: Does the state government have an overview of where most of the infections take place?

And surprise, surprise - the answer was more than meaningless.

So I have to state that more than eight months after the start of the pandemic, the state government cannot clearly state where the main clusters are from which people are infected.

But that's exactly what is important for the measures - for example when it comes to which cultural events are possible despite Corona.

Allegedly, a software update must first be installed in order to receive this data.

I have to say: Okay, Mr Söder, this update could have been provided for in all that time. 

They also miss a willingness to cooperate.

Markus Söder likes to point out that he is quite open to suggestions from parliament - for example when he made it possible for Italian corona patients to be admitted at the suggestion of your parliamentary group colleague Ludwig Hartmann.

That is actually a good counterexample for your allegation.

As the Greens, we have also implemented some measures.

For example, the 500 euros for the nursing staff - we wanted that a month, but Markus Söder did it once.

Of course, I think it's good if we take over considerations and suggestions.

But I also think that Markus Söder can't keep patting himself on the back because he reacted to a text message once.

Parliament's greater participation in decision-making, which I believe to be indispensable, has been blocking his government since May.

And I think that's presumptuous and also endangering democracy.

Corona policy in Bavaria: Greens demand a say in Söder - "That helps all democrats"

Why is this co-determination so important?

There is still a government majority.

Because the government cannot decouple from parliament.

We parliamentarians are the legislature.

We were elected to make decisions on behalf of the citizens for five years.

The control of the government and the negotiation of alternative proposals is part of the essence of democracy!

It cannot be that the executive in its circles issues one regulation after the other and the fundamentals are not debated and decided in plenary.

In a corona commission we have the opportunity to invite experts and to discuss government measures as well as suggestions and suggestions in front of the public. 

With your demand for a Corona Measures Act, you have been biting granite with the CSU and free voters for a long time.

The government points out that you must be able to act quickly.

A plausible argument, isn't it?

The Corona Measures Act is about giving us a legal framework for government measures.

Markus Söder also wants to misunderstand us.

He thinks that with parliamentary participation everything would take so terribly long.

But that's nonsense.

The decisive factor is that we not only act quickly, but also act correctly.

Our proposal stipulates that the government naturally has the option of quick decisions, but that the broad framework such as the mask requirement or keeping one's distance is legitimized by parliament.

Why would the law be so important, even if it does not question this scope at all?

It is totally crucial!

Because if the parliament officially gives the government the go-ahead to react quickly with regulations, then corona deniers cannot so easily swagger that everything goes down the drain.

This legitimation helps all democrats to counter corona deniers with arguments and to make it clear why the rules are the way they are.

Katharina Schulze: "That makes people foolish" - K-questions-scolding for Söder

You also criticize Markus Söder's dealings with the other federal states.

Yes, because anyone who thinks they will get through this crisis as a first person shooter is wrong.

We need each other, we have to stick together.

As a citizen of this country, I find it downright uncomfortable when the prime minister of our country constantly makes derogatory comments about other federal states.

The best example is Berlin.

Markus Söder stood there and said: “On the verge of no longer controllability!” Now the values ​​are increasing here - does that also apply to our situation in Bavaria?

I think that's what makes people a little bit foolish too.

Then there is a "duel": Laschet does this, Söder does that, election campaign here, election campaign there ... But it's not about who will be CDU chairman or candidate for chancellor.

It's about the fact that we can somehow get through this dangerous pandemic and balance the various needs and wishes reasonably well. 

What exactly would you expect?

You can learn from each other.

Baden-Württemberg, for example, has already passed a corona law under green leadership - and it's going very, very well there.

The fictitious entrepreneur's wages for the self-employed and artists have also existed there for a long time.

We've been bothering Markus Söder since April.

Now the entrepreneur's wages should finally come in Bavaria too - that's good!

But that would have been faster too.

Would you say that Markus Söder consciously sacrifices such learning effects - perhaps also in the fight for a candidate for chancellor?

I've known Markus Söder for a long time, just like the Bavarians ... I can only say: I would like to see a Prime Minister who will help the team move forward during these difficult times.

He or she knows that the other person can also be right.

By the way: These are qualities that I would like not only for a Prime Minister - but also for the next Chancellor.

Corona in Bavaria: Söder in the criticism - better courage than "full cannon fear"

You have also criticized Markus Söder for “governing with fear”.

How do you determine this accusation?

In exactly such things as the saying “Berlin is on the verge of no longer controllability”, in such horror images.

When Scared What Is the Natural Response?

You withdraw, you feel small, you feel helpless.

The positive thing - if there is anything positive about this pandemic - is that we can do something ourselves.

For example, we can minimize our personal contacts now so that we can hopefully get back together soon.

This virus always needs a host and that's us. 

 can make sure that the virus cannot leap forward from us.

I think it's important to be courageous that we can get through this dark winter and autumn.

It's better than having someone shout fear into your ear.

Then again specifically: What are your demands on the Bavarian state government for the supposedly dark Corona winter?

First of all, there is parliamentary legitimation.

It is very important.

Second, smart equipment for the health authorities, because they are essential for tracking the chains of infection.

Their situation in Bavaria is absolutely embarrassing - the offices don't have the latest software, they don't even have the same software!

At the same time, the staffing has been cut to pieces for decades.

There absolutely needs to be more support.

And then I expect the state government to focus on those who have not yet had the strength to be loud - families, children, young people, senior citizens - and that there will be further help for these groups.

Interview: Florian Naumann