"Insolence": Recovered status in the Bundestag valid for another six months - but turning point is now in the offing
Created: 01/27/2022 05:27
By: Cindy Boden
The plenum of the Bundestag © Kay Nietfeld/dpa
In some cases, the Bundestag will remain with the old rules on the status of convalescents for the time being.
"Insolence" is what MPs say.
A change could come soon.
Does the Bundestag have a different convalescent status rule than elsewhere?
A spokesman took a position on Tuesday
(see initial report).
But the criticism of the "extra sausage" is great
(see update from January 26, 10:55 a.m.).
Now there could be a change soon
(see update from January 26, 11:40 a.m.).
Update from January 26, 11:40 a.m .:
The duration of the recognition of the recovered status for members of the Bundestag in Parliament should be discussed again.
SPD parliamentary secretary Katja Mast announced on Wednesday that the topic would be discussed this Thursday in parliament's council of elders.
She "certainly assumes" that the rules applicable to MPs will be changed for the next week of the session.
The current general decree of the Bundestag, which regulates in particular access to the plenary hall and committee rooms, assumes that the convalescent status is valid for six months
(see initial notification)
.
Outside of parliament, however, a validity of 90 days has only been valid for a week and a half due to a decision by the Robert Koch Institute.
Criticism of the recovered status in the Bundestag: "Unequal treatment"
Update from January 26, 10:55 a.m .:
The criticism of the recovered status rule is expanding: legal experts and politicians criticize the exception for members of the Bundestag in the generally tightened regulation
(see initial report)
.
The constitutional law expert Christian Hillgruber from the University of Bonn told the
picture
that there was no justification for the "unequal treatment" of citizens and politicians: "Either the reduction of the convalescent status is necessary from a technical and health point of view or not, MP status or not. "
The FDP health expert Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus told the newspaper: "There must be no special regulations in the Bundestag." She called for the underlying general decree to be changed - if possible in the next few days.
Bundestag “extra sausage”?
Cured status reduced – it obviously doesn’t only apply to the Bundestag
First report from January 25th:
Berlin – The shortening of the recovered status is already causing a lot of public resentment.
A message from the Bundestag stirs up even more dust: Despite the reduction in the convalescent status from six to three months for citizens, the old deadline still applies in some cases in the Bundestag.
The deadlines are recorded in the so-called general decree.
In turn, the “Covid-19 Protection Measures Exception Ordinance” is decisive for the health status.
"At the time the general decree was issued, it provided for a period of at least 28 days and a maximum of six months, which continues to apply," said a spokesman for the Bundestag when asked by
Merkur.de
.
Bundestag rules on convalescent status: changes are being examined
"In view of the very dynamic situation, which is associated with some uncertainties, yesterday's federal-state meeting, the experiences of the current week of meetings and the further pandemic events, it is continuously analyzed whether changes to the general decree are indicated," it said on Tuesday (May 25). January) from the speaker further.
It is therefore not clear whether, and if so when, the decree will be changed.
The regulation can be adjusted by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD).
Those affected are access to the plenum and the committees, the German press agency quoted a spokesman for the recovered status in the Bundestag as saying.
For access to the workplace, i.e. to the offices of members of parliament, parliamentary groups and the Bundestag administration, the period reduced to 90 days according to the Infection Protection Act applies.
Corona rules in the Bundestag: clear criticism from the opposition because of “extra sausage”
Clear criticism came from the ranks of the Union faction, among others.
"To be honest, I would find it strange if something different applied in the Bundestag than in Germany as a whole," said First Parliamentary Secretary Thorsten Frei (CDU).
The question of how long the convalescent status is valid should be answered primarily medically.
That's why it affects members of the Bundestag just like others.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt blamed Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
“It is outrageous to shorten the recovered status to three months in a technically questionable way, but to leave it at six months for the Bundestag,” said the CSU politician on Tuesday.
"In doing so, Lauterbach did democracy a real disservice."
Stephan Brandner, deputy federal spokesman for the Alternative for Germany and parliamentary director of the parliamentary group, also criticizes the "extra sausage for MPs".
This shows the decoupling of Berlin politics from the citizens.
Due to 2G and 2G-Plus rules in Parliament, there have been repeated - sometimes surprising - problems in recent weeks with regard to AfD MPs.
(cibo/dpa)
