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Bavaria's Prime Minister Söder (l.), Free Voters Chief Aiwanger: »Narrow ridge«
Photo: Peter Kneffel / dpa
Bavaria's Deputy Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger has defended his skeptical attitude towards corona vaccinations.
After sharp criticism from Markus Söder, Aiwanger accuses the CSU of campaigning tactics.
"The CSU is apparently afraid of a bad Bundestag result and therefore attacks its own coalition partner without need," said the head of the Free Voters of the "Bild".
»I was asked about my vaccination status in front of the camera and I believe that vaccination is an important part of combating corona, but that it still has to be a personal decision.
This has nothing to do with shamanism or lateral thinking, but is a personal right to freedom, "said Aiwanger, who has so far refrained from a corona vaccination.
CSU boss Söder had previously told SPIEGEL with a view to his deputy: "Anyone who believes they can ingratiate themselves with right-wing groups and lateral thinkers leaves the middle class and in the end suffers damage themselves." Aiwanger walk "a fine line".
Aiwanger had recently spoken of a "hunt" for unvaccinated people in Germany and also warned of an "apartheid debate" that could be triggered by opponents of vaccination if unvaccinated people were to have fewer rights.
The Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs is running for the Bundestag and hopes to break the five percent hurdle with his party.
mkl / dpa
