Today we deal with the topic of power accumulation, with the traffic light, with Merkel's facial expressions, with the early retirees and a happy goalkeeper.
Democracy has to defend itself
The
power struggle
between Chancellor Merkel and the Prime Ministers, my main topic this week, is getting worse.
Yesterday, Merkel's party colleague Daniel Günther, head of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, also rejected the Chancellor's criticism of easing or failing to close.
From the Union camp, Markus Söder from Bavaria is the only heavyweight who is determined to take Merkel's position.
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Angela Merkel with a face mask in the Bundestag
Photo: Markus Schreiber / AP
A study by the Scientific Service of the Bundestag has now confirmed that the federal government already has the power to prescribe many measures against the pandemic for the states.
However, the question arises as to whether it would be wise if
Merkel were to reign in the federal states, to rule through
the fight against Corona.
The desire for a strong state always arises when it comes to life and death, for example when terrorists attack.
But democracy not only has to defend its own population, it must also always maintain itself, the system that is threatened by the agglomeration of power.
That makes it so difficult to be efficient in a crisis.
If Merkel were to rule the federal states against the will of the prime ministers, this would change the power architecture of the Federal Republic permanently.
You shouldn't decide about this during the crisis, but afterwards with a cool head.
Now the best way would be for the country leaders to
voluntarily go down Merkel's path
(I would like to repeat myself).
Threat from the Chancellor: How Merkel could tighten her corona policy without the countries
Merkel's facial expressions
Two Merkel moments from the last few days occupy me.
One is from last night when the Chancellor and Health Minister Jens Spahn gave a press conference on the AstraZeneca vaccine (see below).
When the camera swiveled to Spahn, one saw briefly how Merkel gave the government spokesman to understand with her facial expressions that she wanted an end, no further questions, get away from here.
There was
disgust on
that face, there was
condescension to this annoying journalism
.
The other moment is from the program "Anne Will" on Sunday, when Merkel spoke about the fact that she asked for forgiveness because of the canceled Easter rest.
The way she pronounced the word "pardon," almost spat it out, was strange and difficult to interpret.
It could have been
reluctance
, maybe
distancing
.
It looked as if the Chancellor was not completely at peace with herself.
Speculation?
Yes.
But feel free to take a look, you can find the scenes on the internet.
Merkel is not inclined to use strong forms of expression.
If she shows any, there is usually a strong impulse behind it.
Press conference: This is what Merkel and Spahn say about the use of AstraZeneca
Is the traffic light making a comeback?
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Which alliance does the Baden-Württemberg state executive board choose?
(Symbol image)
Photo: Oliver Berg / dpa
Black and green
is an alliance option that time is slowly passing by.
Eight or nine years ago it was considered modern, a sign of a new beginning, but the CDU was not yet ready at the time.
But now the CDU seems so worn out that it is no longer suitable for a departure.
This brings other options to the fore.
In Baden-Württemberg, the exploratory group of the Greens will decide today which alliance they will recommend to the state executive.
After the state elections in mid-March, the coalition with the CDU can continue, but also the traffic lights, i.e. the
Greens, SPD and FDP
.
Should the state executive decide in favor of this option, it would of course also be a strong signal for the federal government.
Questions of freedom, which are at home with the FDP, and social questions, the main topic of the SPD, have gained in importance as a result of the pandemic, the climate problem has remained.
In these times, the traffic light could look more modern than black and green.
State elections: The Union's fear of traffic lights
What a confusion!
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Corona chaos: who can get the AstraZeneca vaccine?
(Symbol image)
Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP
The 60 to 65 year olds in Germany live, so to speak, in the happiness corridor, if you look at the world with the focus on
AstraZeneca
.
At first the vaccine was not approved for people over 65 in this country, now it is only given to people under 60 if they absolutely want it.
In between he was banned for all ages.
All in all, however, people in the classic early retirement age, the 60 to 65-year-olds, do best in this regard.
But what a mess, what a confusion!
How do you feel now when AstraZeneca has already spread in your own body?
What do you do if a vaccination appointment with this substance is due soon?
I would probably go there, but I wouldn't be really happy.
In the
corona chaos
, we are really all losers.
AstraZeneca Vaccination Resolutions: The Double Astra Volte
Winner of the day ...
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Today ter Stegen is allowed into the goal
Photo: David Ramos / Getty Images
... is
Marc-André ter Stegen
.
Today he is allowed to play football and can stand in the goal of the German national team against North Macedonia.
Ter Stegen is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has a regular place at FC Barcelona, but he is almost always on the bench for international matches.
Because Manuel Neuer, who is considered to be even better than Ter Stegen, has the long-term claim to guard the German goal.
Tonight Neuer is taking a break, which amounts to an act of grace for the rival.
But he knows: No matter how well he holds, next time he will have to make way for new ones.
The latest news from the night
Honda recalls 761,000 cars worldwide:
The vehicle manufacturer Honda calls hundreds of thousands of cars to the workshops.
The reason: a defect in the fuel pump could cause engine problems.
Several models are affected
Joe Biden's German Shepherd again involved in "biting incident":
"Major" had just completed a behavior training - but now there has been another incident with US President Joe Biden's German Shepherd.
The details are still unclear
NATO jets fly ten interception missions in six hours:
From Norway's coast to the Black Sea: Within a few hours, NATO had to send fighter jets ten times to observe Russian aircraft movements.
According to the alliance, a "rare peak value"
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I wish you a good start to the day.
Yours Dirk Kurbjuweit