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Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder at a press conference with his deputy Hubert Aiwanger (l.)
Photo: Sammy Minkoff / imago images / Sammy Minkoff
It has just been a few weeks since the CSU and Free Voters in Bavaria clashed over the corona policy.
At that time, the head of the Free Voters and Vice-Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger opposed the new Infection Protection Act because it went to the federal government "without need".
Now there is another problem in the Munich coalition.
The reason is Aiwanger's reluctance to get vaccinated against the corona virus.
According to the AFP news agency, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is now publicly increasing the pressure on his deputy.
"Perhaps you will say something about why you simply do not want to be vaccinated," said Söder after a cabinet meeting to his coalition partner in Munich to the Aiwanger who was at his side.
According to the Süddeutscher Zeitung, Aiwanger is apparently the only member of the cabinet who has not yet received a vaccine dose.
In addition, Aiwanger apparently has no vaccination appointment yet.
Söder now demands a justification for the hesitation.
To get vaccinated now is no longer a push, said Söder.
However, the head of the Free Voters was not impressed by the pressure from the CSU chairman.
"The decision as to whether or not someone should be vaccinated is a personal decision - I take it up on myself," said Aiwanger.
He wants to look at the development "in the next weeks and months".
He does not generally say no to vaccination, but does not want to do so now.
"We shouldn't put any public pressure on," demanded Aiwanger.
Bavaria is currently behind numerous other federal states in terms of initial vaccinations, so far only 51.3 percent of the population are simply immunized.
When it comes to second vaccinations, the largest federal state is in the middle with 35.7 percent.
Söder had therefore announced on Monday that the vaccination prioritization in Bavaria would end this week and urged a higher vaccination rate.
According to plans by the country chief, 70 percent of people should receive at least one dose by the end of July.
In this context, Söder also announced that he would discuss his ministers and state secretaries' willingness to vaccinate in the cabinet.
fek / AFP