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"Buffing up" for Merkel's government? Kekulé sees Corona "catastrophe" - and warns politics of "fatal failure"

2021-01-25T04:28:53.114Z


Is the federal government bad advice? Virologist Alexander Kekulé takes the Corona policy into court - and seems to have Germany in mind.


Is the federal government bad advice?

Virologist Alexander Kekulé takes the Corona policy into court - and seems to have Germany in mind.

Berlin / Munich

- Actually, a

corona summit of the federal and state governments

should

have taken place on Monday (January 19th)

.

But

Chancellor Angela Merkel

and the

Prime Ministers

have brought the talks forward - with a known outcome.

However, the disputes continue to be fierce about the relaxation of schools and “zero covid” plans.

With a very clear

political scolding

, the well-known

virologist Alexander Kekulé

has now

spoken up

again after other colleagues

.

His statement could fit into a current debate: After the recent summit, several politicians had complained about a one-sided selection of advisors.

Kekulé criticizes Merkel's government: virologist expands criticism in new post

Only a few days ago, the doctor had

expressed criticism

in an interview with the

Münchner Merkur

.

“The

lockdown

is being

imposed

on the country in the hope that the virus will be suppressed.

The problem is: the concrete lid is not completely tight, ”he said.

At the same time, Kekulé called for clear

rules for working life

and

"fever hotels" instead of home quarantine

for those suffering from Corona without symptoms.

Now the expert has generalized his scolding.

Kekulé's accusation: politicians in the democratic states were sometimes

badly advised

in the course of the pandemic

- and may have insufficient expertise in matters of natural sciences.

However, the doctor explicitly did not limit his criticism to Germany.

A quite explosive criticism: Kekulé himself had

advised

the federal government in the

"Protection Commission"

from 2003

- the body was abolished in

2015

, that is, under Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).

"Those who cling to the recommendation of the most convenient adviser, rely on the principle of hope or use alternative facts as the basis of their actions, may secure their political survival and impress scientifically inexperienced voters - but in the fight against the forces of nature they will fail fatally," wrote Kekulé now in a guest post for the website

Focus Online

.

Kekulé reckons with German politics: "Outraged rejection"

Kekulé made it clear in the text that he too

had been disregarded

at the beginning of the

Corona crisis

in

Germany

.

His suggestion "to interrupt the epidemic that is beginning in Germany by suspending major events for two weeks, closing schools and calling for fewer contacts" met with outraged rejection.

In the eyes of the experts, a serious mistake with lasting consequences:

Sars-Cov2

is identical in its transmission

routes

to the

Sars virus, which was

brought under control in just six months in 2003

.

Nevertheless, the situation got out of control.

Meanwhile, the situation in Germany is also "catastrophic".

Corona scolding from Kekulé: "Drawn the short straw against China" - Clear demand to politicians

Kekulé demanded that representatives of the people should “check out” gaps in scientific knowledge - then they could

understand

the

arguments of their advisors

and check them for plausibility.

Open criticism of the regulations and changes in course of the federal government seemed to be found in another passage:

Epidemics and other challenges - such as climate change - can only be mastered for open societies "if their elected representatives can conclusively justify incisive measures and the citizens can understand this," wrote the

expert

.

In the corona pandemic, on the other hand,

democracies

would have

“lost out”

to

China,

for example

.

Kekulé is considered an

opponent of a strict lockdown

as the main measure against Corona.

He recently made this clear in an ARD talk.

However, Kekulé also had a demand for his professional colleagues: "Conversely, the experts have to learn to place their findings in interdisciplinary contexts and to translate them into a public language," he explained.

Citizens must be able to

understand

scientific debates

as well as "the game tactics of the favorite football team".

(

fn

)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-01-25

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