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A power vacuum at an inopportune time - Germany has not made any progress in fighting the pandemic in recent weeks because the old government did little, the new government had to find each other and the countries were divided.
Did this week turn things around?
Martin Knobbe, Der Spiegel: “What was achieved this week is that those responsible for the Corona policy, namely the Prime Ministers, have finally sat down with the old government and the future government and discussed how they want to tackle this together now. There are still gaps, there are uncertainties. But there was now at least two meetings, an informal and an official Prime Minister's Conference, and there was the will to create something together. "
Specifically, this round decided among other things: the nationwide introduction of 2G in retail with the exception of shops for everyday needs, in gastronomy, in leisure and cultural venues such as cinemas or concert halls as well as a restriction of viewers at major events such as Bundesliga soccer games. A compulsory vaccination should come next year - Scholz is already urgently appealing to those who have not yet been vaccinated.
Olaf Scholz, soon to be Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany: “Those still have to bring themselves to get vaccinated who have not yet done this. And that is my very personal appeal at this point that we should convince everyone to take this step now. It is really important. And we now finally know that there is a consequence that a large part of the population has so far not made it up to get vaccinated. "
Martin Knobbe, Der Spiegel: »My biggest surprise was actually the clarity and vehemence with which Olaf Scholz announced these measures. He was rhetorically strong at times. Otherwise he often contrived in meaningless sentences. That was not the case this time. Olaf can be credited with taking a step that the old government doesn't dare to take - although he was also part of the old government, you always have to add that. But that is the step towards a general compulsory vaccination. This is a big step, one that is also risky because there are already a lot of people who are against it. With his clear expression of will he showed the flag. "
In the weeks before, Scholz had been more cautious about Corona and focused on the formation of a government.
That, too, has apparently changed.
Martin Knobbe, Der Spiegel: “This weekend, we heard, he sat down with leading virologists and modelers. The situation was explained very precisely and now has a plan, not only with the crisis team, but also with the expert council that he wants to set up to get the situation under control to some extent. "
His predecessor Angela Merkel repeatedly warned and warned about Corona - but she did not manage to steer Germany well into the second pandemic winter.
Angela Merkel, still-Chancellor: “I have to say quite honestly that we are now in such a strong fourth wave, that doesn't make me happy. But that depresses me, especially when I see certain regional situations. That's why I sit down and have worked right to the end to ensure that we break this fourth wave as quickly as possible. "
Martin Knobbe, Der Spiegel: “On the one hand it is tragic that Angela Merkel, after 16 years in which she has achieved a lot, which were significant years, now has to resign at the worst climax of this crisis. I found her appearance yesterday again classic Merkel: sober, but definitely with a slight irony. She wished the new government the best of luck and the right decisions. She would certainly have wished for a nicer farewell, and that would have been appropriate. "
Merkel is leaving - and the new government is under great time pressure despite the encouraging appearance on Thursday.
The new Infection Protection Act has already had to be improved twice - meanwhile, more and more intensive care units are reaching their limit.
Martin Knobbe, Der Spiegel: »The problem is that this process is extremely tedious. It will definitely take another two weeks until the new measures are actually passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat. And that is actually time that you cannot afford in this acute situation. "
