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Federal President Steinmeier in conversation with citizens in Bellevue Palace
Photo:
Chris Emil Janssen / imago images / Chris Emil Janssen
There will be no compulsory corona vaccination - this is the message that numerous leading politicians have spread for a long time.
Many of them have now changed their minds and the debate about mandatory vaccination is in full swing.
In view of this turnaround, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier demands that those responsible in the federal and state levels now have to underpin their position particularly well.
Such a "drastic measure" requires a particularly demanding justification - "all the more because those responsible in the federal and state governments have explicitly excluded compulsory vaccination for a long time," said Steinmeier at the start of a debate with citizens about compulsory vaccination.
This places the state in an extraordinary duty before its citizens.
"In short: compulsory vaccination means compulsory debate!" Steinmeier said he did not want to take a position on the question of compulsory vaccination.
"As Federal President, I will not position myself in this round to say yes or no to a general vaccination requirement."
However, he has made it clear several times that he believes it is the citizens' responsibility to get vaccinated.
“The state cannot put on the protective mask for us, nor can it be vaccinated for us.
No, it depends on us, on each and every one of us! ”He said in his Christmas address.
And at a discussion event at Bellevue Palace last November, he said: "If you are still hesitant about getting vaccinated, I want to ask you directly today: What still has to happen in order to convince you?"
In the current round of talks, Steinmeier described a thorough debate as crucial for democracy.
“
There are people who say: We have a
'Corona dictatorship ' in Germany
”
.
That is "malicious nonsense!"
There could be no question of a dictatorship.
"We fight our way through this pandemic month after month, but not because we are steered and steered with an iron hand, but because the vast majority struggle again and again to do the right thing," said Steinmeier.
The discussion event took place with guests in Bellevue Palace and digitally connected participants.
According to the Federal President's Office, people were invited who wrote letters to the Federal President explaining why they reject or support a general vaccination requirement.
Citizens, who are particularly challenged in their professions in the pandemic, for example from the health and education sectors, were among the guests.
ulz / AFP