Recovered extra sausage in the Bundestag?
Bas explains the background - and warns of new troubles
Created: 2022-02-04 10:26 am
By: Andreas Schmid
President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Some of the Corona regulations apply in the Bundestag.
The rules for those who have recovered caused criticism and could be adjusted – and still cause problems.
Berlin - The shortening of the convalescent status from six to three months is politically explosive - also in the German Bundestag.
Surprisingly, even after the new regulation, the six-month rule still applies in Parliament.
The background was the general decree of the Bundestag, which regulates, among other things, access to the plenary hall and committee rooms.
That too is a political issue these days.
The Bundestag rule recently heated up the spirits.
Legal experts and politicians criticized the exception for members of the Bundestag in the generally tightened regulation.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt spoke of "impudence".
"What Mr. Dobrindt finds outrageous is his business," says Bundestag President Bärbel Bas now: Two weeks after the RKI decision, the SPD politician made a comprehensive statement.
Eddy about recovered status in the Bundestag: Bas explains how it came about
"I'm honestly sorry that the impression was created that MPs have a privileged status," Bas told the
taz
- to then explain the seemingly complicated procedure.
“On January 12, a general decree came into force in the Bundestag that determines which rules apply in the committees and in the plenary hall.
The recovered status is then valid for six months.
With effect from January 15, the Robert Koch Institute has shortened this status to three months.
A day later came the message that the EU is maintaining the six-month period for travel.
The prime ministers' conference followed on Monday.
We had to wait and see what would be decided there, ”she explained.
That's why she stayed with the old rule for the time being.
"Every day I think about what could have been done better," admitted Bas.
It is a very complex mixture.
"Because the six months apply to all those who have recovered if they want to go to the plenary hall or to a committee meeting - including visitors or journalists," says Bas.
However, other requirements apply to other places where parliamentarians work.
“If MPs go to their office and meet their employees there as an employer, there is a period of three months according to Section 28 of the Infection Protection Act.
And if they go to the Bundestag canteen at lunchtime, six months apply again.
Because there we are guided by the ordinance of the State of Berlin.”
Healed status in the Bundestag: Bas sees AfD problem – “because they are no longer allowed in the hall”
The six-month rule continues to apply in the Bundestag.
However, Bas announced that he would consider an adjustment.
However, the SPD politician, who has been President of the Bundestag since October, warned of a problem – with the AfD.
"You also have to know that if I shorten the status to three months, it can mean that even more parliamentarians, like AfD MPs, have to go to the visitors' gallery because they are no longer allowed in the hall."
More than 20 AfD MPs have to follow the Bundestag sessions from the grandstand.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The 2Gplus rule currently applies in the plenum.
MEPs who are not vaccinated or have recovered, or who do not want to provide information on their vaccination status, must go to the stands.
“That would mean: We have little or no space for visitors.
But the public also has a right to participate.”
Several AfD MPs already have to sit in the stands.
In the future, this fate could also befall party leader Tino Chrupalla or co-group leader Alice Weidel.
Both had been infected with the corona virus in October and November and have therefore been considered recovered for more than 90 days.
According to his own statements from the election campaign, Weidel is not vaccinated.
So far he has not wanted to say whether Chrupalla is vaccinated or not.
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