The “maybrit illner” talk was tough.
The federal government was sharply criticized.
Chancellery chief Helge Braun defended the course.
Topic of the “maybrit illner” talk on January 21st on ZDF: “Vaccinations, masks, mutations - is there a threat of an endless shutdown?”
Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig criticizes the federal government and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
Shock news from London about the new virus variant B117 - 85 percent of all British corona infected people are already affected.
Berlin - Moderator Maybrit Illner already makes it clear in the introduction on ZDF: This talk is not going to be cuddly.
In the line of fire is Chancellor Helge Braun, who has to justify the government's course.
Until the end of the show he can not be disturbed - at least externally.
The minister repeated the well-known arguments with impressive composure - without really convincing.
"Maybrit illner" - these guests discussed with:
Helge Braun (CDU)
- Minister of the Chancellery
Manuela Schwesig (SPD)
- Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, switched on
Prof. Dr.
Melanie Brinkmann
- infection biologist at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and the Technical University of Braunschweig
Prof. Dr.
Christiane Woopen
- Chair of the European Ethics Council
Sascha Lobo
- "Spiegel" columnist, author, digitization expert
Diana Zimmermann
- Head of the ZDF studio in London, switched on
Sascha Lobo at “maybrit illner”: The government is making the population feel insecure
For the first exchange of blows, the word goes to Spiegel columnist and digital activist Sascha Lobo.
Above all, he criticizes the Federal Government's communication strategy: "I see a great deal of uncertainty and now also a great deal of anger - and rightly so."
He dislikes: Too much bad or no communications from those that would change people's lives significantly.
For many, according to Lobo, neither the situation nor the measures are comprehensible.
He describes the federal government's home office strategy as unrealistic.
Even Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig does not mince his words when she sharply attacked coalition partners and the EU Commission: "Well, I am totally disappointed with what happened there," said the SPD woman.
"And I think you shouldn't avoid the bush."
She would like "Ms. von der Leyen, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Spahn to say that went badly".
Schwesig shoots sharply against the federal government and the EU Commission: "It was gambled!"
Braun seems to be lost when he appeases: "It was clear to us from the start that we would not have that much vaccine at the beginning."
And tries it with a positive outlook on the approval of further vaccines: "The story is actually developing very favorably for us" and gives six or eight weeks as the goal.
Schwesig does not accept that.
The prospect of the vaccine was the argument to accept tough measures until then, explains the minister.
But then the EU did not rely 100 percent on the vaccine, but "waited and gambled" and "wanted to save".
Schwesig visibly shaken: "To be honest - I wouldn't have guessed that the European Union would afford something like that."
Lobo also hits the ceiling in terms of content: "I'm used to politicians praising themselves, but to this extent I think it's a cheek!"
And summarizes: “The US will buy this vaccine in July.
The EU in November! "
Bad news from London: B117 is currently detected in 85 percent of all corona infected people
ZDF reporter Diana Zimmermann, connected from London, announced even more bad news when she showed the rapid pace at which the mutated virus variant B117 has been spreading on the island since the end of October.
After just three months, 85 percent of all British infected people are currently affected by B117.
Virologist Melanie Brinkmann continues to fuel concern: “You could almost say that we are dealing with a new virus.
Conversely, this would mean that the previous measures would not even be sufficient! ”.
It is also still open to what extent the current vaccine against the mutations is completely effective.
Against this background, Brinkmann's suggestion to drive a “Zero Covid” strategy in the future left the viewer a little at a loss.
Targeting zero cases sounds hard, but the goal is more understandable for the population.
Conclusion of the “maybrit illner” talk
The boiler has burst.
The perseverance slogans seem exhausted.
The EU Commission did not use Corona as a test, it currently seems to have failed in parts.
A depressing interim result was presented in the talk.
The suspicion that Corona is also being used for election campaigns and party politics wafted in the room.
The talk gave an idea of what could happen if the anger continues.
