Corona pandemic: Jens Spahn apparently supports the traffic light infection protection law

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Health Minister Spahn on Thursday in the Bundestag

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

The traffic light coalition's plans for a new infection protection law have apparently won a prominent supporter outside of their own ranks.

According to information from the TV stations RTL and ntv, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) spoke out in favor of the new coalition's approval of the amendment of the Infection Protection Act at a meeting of the Union parliamentary group.

This would mean that Spahn would represent a different position than the acting Federal Chancellor: "The current instruments in the planned Infection Protection Act are not sufficient to prevent exponential spread," Angela Merkel is said to have said in the parliamentary group.

Apparently also against changes

NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is also clearly against a change in the law.

In a letter from the CDU country chiefs, he wrote that the law "in its current version (...) does not require approval in the BuRa".

On Thursday morning, Wüst had already commented on the change plans for the traffic light on ZDF.

"Now you have to see what comes out in the end," said the CDU politician.

First the law goes to the Bundestag.

The Prime Minister's Conference will then come together, in which a joint timetable for the coming weeks will be agreed.

"Then we will decide what to do in the Bundesrat tomorrow." He also announced that the Union parliamentary group would request an extension of the "epidemic situation" in the Bundestag.

"That would be the best, that would be the most legally secure."

Heil warns of blockages

Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) had warned of a blockade against the new Infection Protection Act.

“It's not the time for party politics.

Today in the Bundestag and also in the Prime Minister's Conference, all democrats have a responsibility to ensure that the right thing is done now, «said the SPD politician on ZDF.

Other countries like Italy have a much higher vaccination rate and would therefore get through the fourth wave better.

"So today no quarreling, no blockades, but doing the right thing," said Heil.

col / Reuters