The corona situation in Germany is coming to a head.
The traffic light parties specify their measures.
Angela Merkel chooses drastic words.
The news ticker.
Corona summit of the federal and state governments:
The traffic light groups have summarized their corona measures in a new draft
(see first report from November 17).
The CDU / CSU blockade plan reveals a huge omission
(see update from November 17, 9.45 p.m.)
.
SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz is promoting 2G - for example in the catering industry
(see update from November 17, 5.45 p.m.).
This
news ticker for the Corona summit between the federal and state governments
is continuously updated.
Update from November 17, 9.45 p.m.:
One day before Germany's corona summit, one can confidently speak of a real political test of strength, as the Federal Republic of Germany may not have seen in the coronavirus pandemic.
Because: CDU and CSU go in confrontation to the "traffic light" from SPD, Greens and FDP.
Anyone who would have thought that the head of government Angela Merkel had finished is obviously mistaken.
Corona summit in the news ticker: CDU / CSU and "Ampel" are already arguing about the draft law
To classify: On this Thursday, the German Bundestag is dealing with the draft law of the traffic light parliamentary groups under the possible Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
At the same time, the federal and state governments come together for the corona summit in order to resolve the most uniform rules possible for the winter pandemic amid the confusion of the federal government.
And then there is the Federal Council, which has to give its approval on Friday - and in which the sisters CDU and CSU are strongly represented.
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Not yet Chancellor, but already challenged as a Corona crisis manager: Olaf Scholz from the SPD.
© IMAGO / Jens Schicke
It is precisely through the second constitutional body of the Federal Republic, through which the states participate in legislation, that the Union wants to block the legislative initiative of Scholz's traffic light if necessary.
The new NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) clearly indicated this to the
editorial network Germany (RND)
this Wednesday
.
Should the CDU and CSU not agree with the results after the readings in the Bundestag, in which the “traffic light” holds the majority.
In simplified terms, it can be summarized that the Union is in favor of stricter corona rules.
Corona summit in the news ticker: CDU / CSU blocked the traffic light bill
Striking: The impending blockade by the
Union-led states in the Bundesrat (North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland) covers a huge omission between the Bundestag and Bundesrat after the Bundestag election (September 26) on
.
Because: If the two constitutional organs do not agree, a so-called mediation committee is deployed between the two chambers.
On the website of the Bundestag it says: “The mediation committee consists of 16 members of the Bundesrat and as many of the Bundestag, who are named according to the size of the parliamentary groups.
Its task is to find a consensus between the Bundestag and Bundesrat if laws passed by the Bundestag do not find a majority in the Bundesrat. "
But: As the ZDF's “heute journal” reports, there is currently no mediation committee at all.
According to the report, this would have to be reconstituted after the recent federal election.
And that costs a lot of time.
The only alternative is to extend the so-called epidemic situation on a national level, reports ZDF.
One thing is certain: The next two days will be exciting - for the entire country.
With the new red-red state government in #mv under Prime Minister @ManuelaSchwesig, the composition of the #Bundesrat is also changing.
#MecklenburgVorpommern is represented with 3 out of 69 votes in the regional chamber.
More: https://t.co/KcAeZ7rBj1 pic.twitter.com/ixJs9McKQE
- Federal Council (@bundesrat) November 15, 2021
Update from November 17, 9:20 p.m .:
CDU / CSU and Angela Merkel's Chancellery are submitting their own Corona resolution proposal * to the “traffic light” after the pandemic plans.
And she has the talent.
Lockdown, 2G, schools and restaurants - read an overview of the points from Merkel's and Söder's counter-draft under the link.
Corona summit in the news ticker: Draft law for the traffic light - Olaf Scholz is promoting the 2G rule
Update from November 17, 5.45 p.m.:
SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz has before the federal-state summit this Thursday and the deliberations of the German Bundestag on the Corona draft law of the "traffic light" sustainably for the 2G rule and for booster vaccinations advertised in Germany.
"The coronavirus threatens the health of the citizens of our country," said the likely future Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and called for "all necessary steps to be taken so that we can get through this time and winter".
Scholz is now building on “millions of booster vaccinations”, as he explained and said in a press statement: “We have to use access restrictions such as 2G. If we vaccinate, if we use booster vaccinations, if we test a lot, if we use access restrictions, we will do what it takes now. "
The possible traffic light coalition made up of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP had presented a “massive catalog” on the corona policy, “being implemented, for example 3G in the workplace,” the Hanseatic League continued.
He is aware of the “far-reaching restrictions”, “if citizens, for example, are not allowed to go to a restaurant if they are not vaccinated”.
This is one of the reasons why Scholz once again strongly advocated vaccination, "so that we can strengthen many millions of citizens with a booster vaccination before winter," he said and demanded: "This is a moment when you as a country have to stick together.
Everywhere, in town and country.
But that also applies to politics. "
This is a moment when you have to stick together as a country.
Olaf Scholz from the SPD
A clear indication before the Corona summit this Thursday to leave party politics aside.
Previously, the attacks from the Union in the direction of “traffic lights” had increased, especially with a view to the Corona issue.
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Corona crisis manager: the likely future Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
© IMAGO / Chris Emil Janßen
Corona summit in the news ticker: Are the CDU and CSU-led federal states blocking?
Update from November 17, 3:45 p.m.: In
view of the escalating fourth corona wave, the Union-led federal states want to block the suspension of the epidemic situation of national scope and the associated relaxation of the Infection Protection Act in the chamber of states. The draft set of traffic lights is not sufficient in its current form in order to provide for the next few weeks, the necessary protection against further dynamic expansion of the virus, in a the
editorial network Germany
again this letter from North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister and Chairman of the Prime Minister Conference, Hendrik Wüst (CDU) emphasizes.
The letter is addressed to Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Berlin's Governing Mayor and spokesman for the SPD side, Michael Müller. In addition, the letter was sent to other state governments as well as the Chancellery and the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag. This defends the fact that the previous legal situation is largely retained. The expiry of the epidemic situation is "irresponsible" in view of the current situation, warns Wüst in the letter. Therefore, from the point of view of the Union states in the Bundesrat, the draft law in its current version is “not subject to approval”.
The
Bundestag will decide on the law on
Thursday
(November 18)
, and the Prime Minister's Conference will also take place on the same day.
The Federal Council should then decide on the law in a special session on Friday.
+
North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst described the traffic light plan to lift the pandemic emergency as "irresponsible".
© David Young / dpa
Corona plans of the traffic light: Buschmann describes the situation as "very, very serious" - "create legal certainty"
Update from November 17th, 2:05 pm:
After the end of the epidemic situation on November 25th, the first parliamentary managing director of the FDP parliamentary group Buschmann stated in a statement that the new package would provide “extensive protective measures”. He appealed to all those involved to make use of this catalog “as appropriate”. In the light of the critical situation in the southern federal states, he called on them to make use of the currently applicable law. The impression that the planned package has already restricted the application of current law is not correct.
Federal states in which the situation is better should not be “forced” with lockdowns, emphasized the FDP politician.
It is therefore not appropriate for individual federal states, in which the situation is far worse, to claim that “this catalog of measures can only be used if all federal states do it together”.
Furthermore, according to Buschmann, the abolition of free tests was a mistake, because a free offer increases the probability of "recognizing infections and breaking chains of infection more quickly".
In connection with the 3G rule at work and in local public transport, this measure makes sense, said Buschmann.
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FDP politician Marco Buschmann described the Corona situation in southern Germany as "dramatic".
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Update from November 17, 1:50 p.m .:
"Nobody can fail to recognize that the situation is very, very serious," said the parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group Marco Buschmann about the current corona situation.
This is particularly the case in the south - Saxony, Thuringia and Bavaria.
The situation here has to be described as "dramatic", because the health system is exposed to "considerable stress", said Buschmann.
"Even with our original legislative package, we never - and I emphasize - never wanted to send the message that Corona was over," it continued.
After all, they would have always drawn attention to the danger posed by Corona.
Their goal was simply to work with a “modernized, legally secure package of measures”.
At this point, Buschmann spoke of “misinformation”. Time and again, attempts are made to create the impression "that if we launch our new package of measures to replace the old one, that we do not have legally appropriate instruments to fight Corona". This is wrong, he stressed. The new package will now create legal certainty for measures from the "old package".
In addition, one is not in favor of “blanket” lockdowns, closings or domestic German travel restrictions.
In particular because of the calls from the south, the aim is to provide the countries with instruments that go beyond the planned catalog.
Buschmann cited the prohibition of leisure events or the closure of leisure facilities as examples.
According to the FDP politician, additional measures should only be possible if there is a majority in the respective state parliament.
Corona escalation: Lauterbauch calls on RKI to prioritize - Wüst expresses harsh criticism of Scholz
Update from November 17, 12.50 p.m.:
The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach has asked the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) to couple their recommendation for booster vaccinations with a prioritization. “If we open the booster to everyone without restrictions, we will put the prioritization in the hands of the practices. With 30,000 medical practices that means 30,000 different priorities, ”Lauterbach told the
editorial network Germany
. His demand for booster vaccinations from the age of 18: "The Stiko should clearly determine which group is next."
Lauterbach suggested prioritizing those over 70 and 60.
Then the over 50-year-olds should also be prioritized.
Since the full protection of the booster vaccination only unfolds after two weeks, one should "vaccinate the over 50-year-olds quickly to protect them for the next few weeks", according to the SPD health expert.
Lauterbach said he expects the Stiko to recommend the third vaccination as early as five months after the second vaccination.
For all further booster vaccinations, however, a greater interval would be sufficient.
"In the future, the interval for a booster will be significantly longer, as we see a significant increase in antibodies and other improved defense mechanisms after the third vaccination."
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According to the SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach, a recommendation for booster vaccinations must be coupled with a prioritization.
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Update from November 17, 12.45 p.m.:
One day before the federal-state round on the corona situation, North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) expressed harsh criticism of SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz.
Angela Merkel (CDU) spent a lot of time in her tenure as Chancellor in the Corona crisis consulting with the countries before making a decision, Wüst said on Wednesday in a special session of the Düsseldorf state parliament.
"Olaf Scholz let the countries drain and tried to put them before a fait accompli with the Infection Protection Act - with devastating consequences."
Wüst - currently also chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK) - asked Scholz to correct course. From the upcoming SPD-led traffic light coalition in Berlin were negative signs, he said. “To let the epidemic situation come to an end with this development is a mistake and a wrong signal. It is not yet too late to correct this mistake. ”Everyone should have brought back wrong decisions in the pandemic. "Even the future Chancellor would not break a spike from the crown to turn back at this point."
Unfortunately, on Tuesday evening, the main committee of the Bundestag refused to allow the federal states to continue to use tried and tested instruments to protect people, criticized the CDU politician.
“The numbers are increasing, the instrument box is getting smaller.
It doesn't go together. ”Parliament and the government must be able to protect people in the event of a fall.
Corona escalation: Chancellor Merkel still wants clarifications - "dramatic pandemic situation"
Update from November 17, 12.15 p.m.:
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has sharply criticized the traffic light parties' departure from the epidemic emergency with a view to the current corona situation. "Even if there is no longer a legal majority in favor of extending the epidemic emergency of national scope, there can be no doubt for me that we are in the middle of such an emergency," said Merkel on Wednesday at the general meeting of the German Association of Cities.
In addition, she called for urgent clarifications to contain the corona infections in the upcoming federal-state consultations.
The current pandemic situation is dramatic, said Merkel.
"The fourth wave hits our country with full force." The consultations with the Prime Minister this Thursday are "overdue", the Chancellor made clear.
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Chancellor Angela Merkel sharply criticized the traffic light parties' departure from the epidemic emergency.
© Martin Schutt / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
Specifically, she called for a brand to be set as to the level of hospital pollution from which additional containment measures must take effect.
Without a threshold value, the agreed index for the number of corona patients admitted per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days would remain “a toothless tiger”.
But it would be "a disaster" not to act until the intensive care units are full.
It is also crucial to make progress with vaccinations.
"Even now it is not too late at all to decide on a primary vaccination," said Merkel.
At the same time, a national effort is now necessary for booster vaccinations from vaccinations that have been in the past.
Scientific knowledge and experience from Israel showed that one could break the wave with “booster” vaccinations.
Merkel said she was “deeply concerned” about the situation in some countries.
The primary goal is to avoid overloading the health system and thus to protect human life.
This includes the fact that corona patients, but also everyone else, can get the best possible treatment.
The "bitter truth" is that this is no longer possible in the worst affected districts.
Corona policy of the traffic light: Röttgen accuses "serious mistake" - "small government crisis"
Update from November 17, 11.35 a.m.:
The CDU chairman Norbert Röttgen accuses the possible future traffic light coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP in the fourth wave of the corona pandemic to make a serious mistake.
The planned end of the epidemic situation of national scope on November 25th is "party politics before politics that protect people," said the member of the Bundestag on Wednesday in the
early start
of RTL and ntv.
“The epidemic situation is stronger than ever.
But because you announced it once, you don't want to get off your high horse now, ”said Röttgen.
That is a decision against reality.
"It's a little government crisis this traffic light before it's even government."
Röttgen also spoke out in favor of compulsory vaccination in certain professions, including care and education professions.
Employees in these professions have to deal with particularly vulnerable people on a daily basis.
"That you can expect them to protect these people through vaccination, that's what I am."
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CDU chairman Norbert Röttgen accuses the traffic light parties of a serious mistake in the fourth corona wave.
© Michael Kappeler / dpa
Corona measures of the traffic light now more concrete - 3G at work and home office
First report from November 17, 11:05 a.m.:
The Prime Minister's Conference will take place
on Thursday
(November 18)
to discuss the nationwide escalating Corona situation. The measures in the fight against the pandemic could be largely tightened. The traffic light parties have now clarified their measures in a draft that is due to come to the Bundestag on the same day of the conference.
In the draft, the traffic light advocates a 3G rule at work and an obligation to work from home.
In addition, you want to crack down on fraudsters.
Selling or using fake tests and vaccination certificates is to be punished on the basis of a new legal regulation.
The exceptions in the case of tougher measures and the obligation to test in clinics or nursing homes are also part of the template.
Corona plans of the traffic light - CSU with criticism and warning of "epochal false start"
In the meantime, the CSU expressed clear criticism of the actions of the traffic light parties.
She sees the future traffic light groups of the SPD, Greens and FDP facing an epoch-making false start because of their corona policy.
The traffic light parliamentary groups did not seek talks with the federal states before the Bund-Länder round with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on Thursday, criticized CSU General Secretary Markus Blume on Wednesday in Berlin.
SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz and the SPD had torpedoed talks.
In contrast to usual, there has not yet been any preliminary coordination with the federal states.
This is bad style, especially in a future coalition that propagates it differently.
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CSU General Secretary Markus Blume sees the traffic light parties facing an "epoch-making false start" due to their Corona policy.
© Sven Hoppe / dpa
The problem is that the policy in the transition of government in the fight against corona is in parts behind the situation, criticized Blume. The CSU still wishes to extend the so-called epidemic situation of national scope beyond November 25th. The traffic light groups would give responsibility to the federal states. This is not consistent: the situation is regionally different. But you know that no country will make it. Among other things, they wanted a more extensive opening clause for the federal states.
Blume called for a discussion about new compensation regulations for the economy in the fourth corona wave.
The situation is darkening for some industries such as gastronomy.
This must be taken into account as soon as possible.
This also applies to the subject of mandatory vaccination.
Every day you wait will make things more difficult.
(bb with material from dpa)
List of rubric lists: © Jens Schicke via www.imago-images.de
