The federal and state governments are reacting to the fierce criticism: Chancellor Merkel has stopped the so-called Easter rest.
In the statement, she explains her decision.
Angela Merkel (CDU) * and the prime ministers spontaneously met for another conference on Wednesday
(see first report)
.
The Chancellor decided to stop the so-called Easter rest
(see update from March 24th, 11.12 a.m.).
In addition, she is said to have described the Easter rest plan as her mistake
(see update from March 24th, 11:30 a.m.).
In a press statement, she comments on the decision
(see updates from March 24th, from 12:31 p.m.)
.
This news ticker is updated regularly.
Update from March 24th, 1.30 p.m .:
“We finally need a consistent
fight against the
pandemic,” says left
parliamentary
group leader Dietmar Bartsch of the
Funke
media group.
“You should ask the vote of confidence in the German Bundestag,” said Bartsch in relation to Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He also spoke of “amateurism in the Chancellery”.
The federal government makes mistakes for mistakes.
"We now have a veritable crisis of confidence in the country's political leadership."
FDP vice-president Wolfgang Kubicki has joined the
picture
of his party colleague Lindner's demand for such a vote of confidence.
The Chancellor had "not only admitted her own ineptitude," said Kubicki.
"Obvious" is also "the lack of competence" of Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier and Federal Minister of Health Spahn.
In addition, Merkel has "obviously lost the trust of part of her coalition factions".
Merkel on Easter rest - FDP leader Christian Lindner calls for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag
Update from March 24th, 1:10 p.m.:
FDP boss Christian Lindner calls for the vote of confidence.
“The Chancellor can no longer be sure of the unanimous support of her coalition.
The vote of confidence in the German Bundestag would be advisable in order to check the ability of Ms. Merkel's government to act, ”tweeted the FDP politician.
The demand is a reaction to Angela Merkel's U-turn in the decision on the Easter rest days.
Hesse's Prime Minister Volker Bouffier also reacted sharply, as
reported by
bild.de.
“What we're doing now is proof that we were completely wrong.
Now we are idiots and that bothers me a lot, "the newspaper quotes the CDU politician.
Update from March 24, 12:38 p.m.:
Chancellor Merkel's press
statement
has ended.
She does not answer questions because shortly after 1 p.m. she is expected in the Bundestag for a government survey.
With their declaration it is clear: There will be no additional rest days at Easter.
The measure has stopped.
Merkel apologized to the citizens and asked for forgiveness for the uncertainty
(see update from March 24th, 12:32 p.m.)
.
You are responsible for this "mistake".
Merkel statement on Easter rest: "Idea was a mistake"
Update from March 24th, 12:36 p.m.:
Even if the "Easter rest" does not come now, the other resolutions of the Corona summit on Monday will continue to serve to break the third Corona wave, emphasizes Merkel in her short press statement.
The federal and state governments plan to meet again on April 12th.
The Chancellor said that the road to fighting pandemic was tough and rocky.
"But the virus will slowly but surely lose its horror," she says.
Until then, they will try to take the necessary measures to help the health system so that it can withstand the strain.
Update from March 24th, 12:32 p.m.:
You have decided not to
initiate
the necessary ordinance for the Easter
days
, but to stop it, says Merkel.
"The idea of an Easter shutdown was designed with the best of intentions," she said.
“Nevertheless the idea of the so-called Easter rest was a mistake.” Because in the short time it was not possible to implement it.
Too many questions unanswered, said Merkel.
“This mistake is solely my fault, because in the end I am officially responsible.” She explained that to the Prime Minister in a short video conference and explained the chairmen of the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag.
"A mistake must be named as a mistake and, above all, it must be corrected." In good time, emphasizes Merkel.
You deeply regret the uncertainty.
"I ask all citizens to forgive me for this."
Update from March 24th, 12:31 p.m.:
The press
statement
by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) after the brief exchange with the Prime Minister begins.
Update from March 24th, 12.27 p.m.:
The
U-
turn on Wednesday: There should be no additional days of rest at Easter.
The Prime Ministers discussed this with the Chancellor in the morning
(see previous updates)
.
Merkel wants to explain the decision in a statement at 12.30 p.m.
Easter 2021: Laschet confirms the withdrawal of the planned measures
Update from March 24th, 12:16 p.m.:
North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) has confirmed the withdrawal of the planned measures for Easter rest.
Laschet said in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament that this was decided on Wednesday in the short-term deliberations of the Prime Minister's Conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
"The regulation by a federal ordinance is not planned for Easter now."
After a legal review by various ministries, numerous problems had emerged. "That was a mistake in this form and so unenforceable," said Laschet about the original decisions of the federal and state governments.
For example, there were problems with ordering meat or baby food.
Laschet said that the withdrawal of the controversial resolutions was good for the political culture in Germany.
He himself made it clear at the Prime Minister's Conference that everyone in the group bears responsibility, not just Chancellor Merkel.
“We all agreed to this.” Laschet appealed to the population to allow as much Easter rest as possible.
Corona: Decision on Easter rest is withdrawn - other measures should take effect
Update from March 24th,
11.53 a.m.: The Easter rest is apparently stopped, at least participants of a switch of the Chancellor and the Prime Minister report to several media
(see update from March 24th, 11.12 a.m)
.
According to dpa information, several participants say that Merkel is not thinking of resigning.
Initially, there are also no plans to convene another federal state in the short term.
The corresponding point on the Easter rest of the resolutions from early Tuesday morning will not be implemented.
Nevertheless, it was right to limit contacts individually as much as possible over Easter, it was said from the group.
It is clear to everyone that further measures are required.
The federal states should now make intensive use of the additional measures anchored in the resolution.
At this point it was said, among other things, in counties with a seven-day incidence of over 100 further steps would be implemented.
This could include, in particular, an obligation to wear medical masks for passengers in private cars or exit restrictions.
Update from March 24th, 11:39 am:
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is behind Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to stop the planned Corona
Easter lockdown
.
“I have personal respect for the Chancellor's statement.
In the end it is better to clear it up now if it is not legally possible, ”he said on Wednesday, according to information from participants, as reported by the dpa.
Ultimately, the procedures are "also part of the problem".
Söder pointed out at the same time that the responsible ministries had been asked on the night of the Prime Minister's Conference whether the implementation of the so-called Easter rest was legally possible.
Merkel stops decision on Easter rest: Chancellor wants to ask people for forgiveness
Update from March 24th, 11:30 am:
According to
Spiegel
information from several participants, Chancellor Angela Merkel described the Easter rest period as her mistake in the briefing called up with the Prime Minister: “If possible, it has to be corrected in good time.
I think that is still possible. ”She now wants to ask forgiveness from the people in the country.
The
image
According Merkel had stated at the beginning of the meeting, they bear full responsibility, "it was my fault!" For 12:30 is a statement of Chancellor planned.
Update from March 24th, 11.12 a.m.:
The meeting with Angela Merkel and the heads of government has barely
begun when
a decision has already been made: After massive criticism, the Chancellor has decided to stop the federal-state decision on the so-called Easter rest.
Merkel announced this on Wednesday in a briefly convened switch with the prime ministers of the federal states, as the German press agency learned from several participants.
Hammer in Berlin: Because of criticism of Easter resolutions - Merkel is setting a new corona summit for noon today
First report from March 24th:
Berlin - An important announcement this Wednesday morning: After the massive criticism of the Easter resolutions of the Bund-Länder-Round at the beginning of the week, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) wants to consult with the Prime Ministers of the Länder again at short notice.
The German press agency found out.
At 11 a.m. there will be a call between the Chancellor and the heads of government.
It will be about dealing with the ongoing criticism.
Above all, displeasure was sparked by the fact that after the hours of corona deliberations on Tuesday night, the implementation of central resolutions was still open.
From country circles it was said that the new deliberations might involve the template planned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior to implement the resolutions of the Prime Minister's meeting with the Chancellor from early Tuesday morning.
Due to the announcement, the government statement by Markus Söder (CSU) in the Bavarian state parliament has already been postponed by a few hours.
According to the dpa, the government survey with the Chancellor planned for 1 p.m. in the Bundestag should take place as planned.
Merkel advises the Prime Minister: Armin Laschet wants to talk “critically” about the Corona summit
According to AFP, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) * has now confirmed the meeting.
He was speaking in the Düsseldorf state parliament when the breaking news arrived.
"I think that we are talking very critically there about what happened two days ago," said Laschet at the meeting from 11 o'clock.
In the state parliament, he called for a new style of government after the massive criticism of the Easter and lockdown resolutions.
The Prime Minister's Conference disappointed the people.
"We can not go on like this," said
the CDU chief with a view to the hour-long meeting.
Corona summit: Seehofer criticizes resolutions at Easter
Because the displeasure on Tuesday was huge.
Many questions about the Easter lockdown were still unanswered.
The request to hold Easter services virtually also met with incomprehension in the Union and surprised the churches.
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) * cannot understand this request from the federal and state governments.
He
criticized the decision in
relation to the
Bild newspaper
: "I was amazed that of all parties that have the C in their name suggest that the churches refrain from worship services, especially at Easter," said Seehofer.
He made it clear that it was not a ban.
“I would like to expressly point out that this is a request,” Seehofer continues.
“My house did not make this suggestion either, although we are responsible for the religions.
Instead, very early on in the pandemic, the Ministry of the Interior worked out hygiene concepts together with the churches, which have worked flawlessly to this day. "
Angela Merkel under pressure: displeasure also in the Union parliamentary group
The Thuringian Bundestag member Albert Weiler (CDU) wrote in an open letter to the Chancellor * of "political failure" and calls the summit resolutions a "declaration of surrender".
According to AFP, Merkel had advertised the decision on an Easter lockdown in the CDU / CSU parliamentary group on Tuesday.
But Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus had already pointed out before the beginning of the meeting that the public pressure on politics was currently "enormous".
And the opposition also followed up with sharp criticism on Tuesday.
FDP leader Christian Lindner called the decision paper a “shocking document of lack of plan”.
The Green Group leader Katrin Göring Eckardt complained that the federal government had "led the country into a dead end" after a year with the pandemic.
The AfD MP Alexander Gauland also called on the government to think about “whether it can do something new and better”.
The parliamentary group leader of the Left, Dietmar Bartsch, described the lockdown extension until April 18 as "Because-it-the-federal-government-messed-up-lockdown".
(dpa / AFP / cibo)
List of rubric lists: © Stefanie Loos
