SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz spoke about politics and private matters in the “Brigitte live” series of talks.
He was rigorous in the vaccination debate and raved about his wife.
Berlin - First Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock *, then Union candidate Armin Laschet *, and now SPD challenger Olaf Scholz *: In the series of talks "Brigitte live", the Vice Chancellor answered questions about politics and personal matters.
"Brigitte live": Corona tests for unvaccinated people should be "as cheap as possible" according to Scholz
At first it was about politics, after all there is an election campaign for the federal election on September 26th *.
More precisely, about the coronavirus * and how to deal with the pandemic.
Since more and more people in Germany are receiving a vaccination offer, Scholz has spoken out in favor of making corona tests chargeable in the foreseeable future.
If everyone could have been vaccinated, one will have to pay for the tests at some point, said the SPD's candidate for chancellor on Wednesday in “Brigitte live”.
However, this should not apply to those who could not be vaccinated for health reasons or for whom - as for children - there is no vaccination recommendation.
Laschet had said in "Brigitte live" that he wanted to provide easier tests for school children.
Olaf Scholz shows feelings: "Would be a different person if I weren't married to Britta Ernst"
In schools and companies, tests should continue to be free of charge, said Scholz.
For everyone else, the tests should be “as cheap as possible”.
"I don't think it's about punishment," he emphasized.
But it is also not to be understood that the state would pay for tests if there had been a better alternative of vaccination.
Because the vaccination not only protects you, but also others.
According to Scholz, there should be a practicable solution in the debate about a planned general corona test obligation for holiday returnees.
The finance minister said that the most pragmatic way possible for tests is currently being sought, for example for those returning from summer vacation.
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder had spoken to the corona rules for return travelers, but has since been corrected by the federal government.
Scholz would like to sleep longer than the job allows
Then Scholz gave insights into his private life.
He prefers to run without music and would like to sleep longer than the job allows, said the 63-year-old.
The woman who would have shaped him the most was his wife, the Brandenburg Education Minister Britta Ernst.
“I believe that I would be a completely different person if I weren't married to Britta Ernst.” His wife is a great politician - that's why he was outraged when asked whether she would continue to work if he became Chancellor.
It was also his wife who at some point gently urged him to lose weight and thus jog, said Scholz.
In the small park near his Hamburg apartment at the time, he barely managed two laps - today, however, he runs several times a week.
Olaf Scholz on "Brigitte live": "My life was different from my internal clock"
“I don't listen to music, I don't have any measuring devices on me either”, he doesn't use a fitness app either, says Scholz.
“And I don't really think about any kind of thing.” He's pretty much at ease anyway and doesn't have to use the running to calm down.
He just enjoys running and it's physically good for him.
He can sleep well and soundly - but often not enough.
"I'm a late riser, but it hasn't happened in a long time," said the candidate for chancellor.
“My life was different from my internal clock.” His wife, on the other hand, is an early riser - as a pensioner, he will probably come to breakfast when his wife has lunch.
(mt / dpa)
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List of rubric lists: © Christophe Gateau / picture alliance
