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Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
The Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag will reject the corona plans of the traffic light parties SPD, FDP and Greens on Thursday.
After a long debate, that was decided by a large majority, SPIEGEL learned from participants.
However, since the traffic light parliamentary groups have over 40 votes more than the necessary majority in the Bundestag, the proposal by the SPD, Greens and FDP should still be passed by parliament.
On this Friday, the Federal Council is to discuss the planned changes to the Infection Protection Act in a special meeting.
The Union also wants to table a motion for a resolution to extend the special status of the epidemic situation beyond November 25, it said from participants.
There was an overwhelming majority for this.
There was a long discussion about the plans of the traffic light groups.
Scholz warns of "party political maneuvers"
In view of the criticism from the Union of the planned new Infection Protection Act, the designated Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for cross-party unity in the fight against the pandemic.
"This is a moment when you have to stick together as a country," said Scholz before a meeting of the SPD parliamentary group.
He warned against "party political maneuvers".
Scholz emphasized that there were "very far-reaching measures" contained in the new law presented by the SPD, Greens and FDP.
He referred to the planned stricter test obligation in nursing homes, the future 3G rule at work and in public transport and requirements for more home office again.
These are "decisive measures" that must now be taken and implemented together, said Scholz.
Many of the new measures are "stricter than the ones we took a year ago."
In addition, it must now be achieved that more people can be vaccinated and there are also more booster vaccinations.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich pointed out that the traffic light parties had already taken up change requests from the CDU / CSU in the draft law in the parliamentary procedure.
This applies to transition periods, which initially allow additional measures, as well as to the right for the federal states to issue additional 2G or 2G-Plus regulations.
as / dpa / AFP