Opposition split over the question of mandatory vaccination
Created: 01/13/2022Updated: 01/13/2022, 5:25 PM
Hans-Ulrich Rülke, chairman of the FDP / DVP parliamentary group, speaks to media representatives.
© Christoph Schmidt / dpa
When it comes to criticizing Kretschmann's state government, the SPD and FDP often agree.
The question of compulsory vaccination divides the opposition in the country - as does the traffic light in the federal government.
Stuttgart - There is a rift in the opposition in the state parliament on the question of a general compulsory vaccination. The Baden-Württemberg FDP parliamentary group had so far only voiced concerns - now the MPs unanimously spoke out against the introduction of such an obligation at their meeting. One is convinced that this is currently not feasible, said parliamentary group leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke. “At least we have not yet seen a model that could even remotely work.” SPD parliamentary group leader Andreas Stoch, on the other hand, considers this to be a “wrong political definition”.
The SPD and FDP form a traffic light government with the Greens in the federal government; in the country they are opposed to the green-black government of Winfried Kretschmann. The Bundestag is expected to decide on a general obligation to vaccinate against corona in a free vote without parliamentary group discipline. Parts of the FDP in the Bundestag are also against the compulsory vaccination. The FPD politician Wolfgang Kubicki and other liberal members of the Bundestag submitted a motion against the general compulsory vaccination, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) clearly spoke out in favor of it.
He would also sign Kubicki's application, said FDP state politician Rülke. One could not change it, even if the AfD in the Bundestag votes for an application by the FDP against a compulsory vaccination. He warned against seeing compulsory vaccination as a promise. Lateral thinkers and citizens of the Reich would still not be vaccinated. In addition, a national vaccination register is needed in order to even know who has not yet been vaccinated.
On Thursday, Rülke also criticized the Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD), with whom his party governs in the federal government. Lauterbach has announced that he will be working as a member of parliament on his own draft law for mandatory vaccination. "Now he has collected it again yesterday - with the funny reason that he must behave neutrally as the Federal Minister of Health," criticized Rülke. The real reason is that Lauterbach cannot come up with a solution as to how to implement mandatory vaccination efficiently and legally.
The Baden-Württemberg opposition leader Stoch rejected the position of the FDP parliamentary group.
He had the impression that the attitude of the liberal MPs in the state parliament did not reflect the opinion of the entire federal FDP.
Therefore, he does not assume that the position of the FDP parliamentary group will play a major role in the decision in the Bundestag.
The AfD parliamentary group reaffirmed its no to compulsory vaccination on Thursday.
This week, the parliamentary groups in the state parliament held retreats to set the political priorities for the new year.
On Thursday the SPD, FDP and AfD will present their topics.
The pandemic overshadowed the conferences.
PANDEMIC MEASURES - The FDP parliamentary group has criticized the Kretschmann government's adherence to the so-called alert level II, which is associated with stricter contact rules in the southwest. You have to orientate yourself on the degree of hospitalization, said Rülke. According to everything you can hear, the omicron variant leads to milder gradients. But he understands if you are careful until you have scientific results. Rülke also called on Kretschmann to quickly introduce an FFP2 mask requirement in buses and trains, as it already applies in Bavaria. The SPD parliamentary group, on the other hand, spoke out in favor of a large-scale information campaign for vaccinations. You have to advertise more on different channels, said Stoch. One should have taken action against misinformation and the fear of vaccination as early as the summer.He also spoke of language and cultural barriers.
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CORONA PROTESTS - The AfD parliamentary group does not consider the unannounced protests against the state's corona measures to be unlawful. "Every citizen has the right to assemble here, even unannounced," said parliamentary group leader Bernd Gögel on Thursday. The MP Emil Sänze said it was normal for the “people to discharge themselves through such walks”. "And I am proud that people are doing that and taking their right to come of age into their own hands." From the point of view of the Interior Ministry, however, the unannounced corona protests represent a clear violation of the right of assembly. The SPD parliamentary group, on the other hand, demands one “Corona extremism special staff” and more support for the municipalities in dealing with the protests.
LANDTAG PROJECTS - In the Landtag, the FDP wants to advocate the advancement of hydrogen technology and the expansion of the cellular network. The AfD parliamentary group is planning initiatives for compulsory insurance for building owners, for direct election of district administrators and easier deportations. In addition, the AfD MPs want to campaign for a compulsory pre-school year. The children should therefore be taught four hours a week by teachers and qualified educators five mornings a week, learn the numbers up to ten and uniformly master the German language before primary school, said AfD education politician Rainer Balzer. The SPD wants a fundamental reform of the overcrowded penal system, more staff, an expansion of the places and at least one new location.The government factions Greens and CDU present their exam results on Friday. dpa
