Kretschmann: "Fighting a wildfire with a garden hose"
Created: 03/18/2022, 12:52 p.m
Winfried Kretschmann (Bündnis 90 Die Grünen), Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg.
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann has once again intensified his criticism of the federal government for the dismantling of the nationwide corona protection measures.
“The virus is spreading like wildfire.
But instead of using heavy equipment and firefighting aircraft, we should now fight the fire with buckets of water and garden hoses," said a statement that Kretschmann put on the record in the Federal Council on Friday.
Stuttgart – The Green pointed out that in Germany there are still three million people over the age of 60 who are not vaccinated.
He doesn't understand why the traffic light government is presenting a law in this situation "that almost no longer provides for any basic protective measures".
In his statement, Kretschmann primarily attacked Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
"It is quite adventurous when the Federal Minister of Health first introduces a law that does not provide for sufficient protective measures, but then calls on the federal states to use the transitional rule." Lauterbach obviously considers his own law to be insufficient.
"Why isn't the federal government creating a clear legal basis for measures that the department in charge obviously considers necessary?" asked Kretschmann.
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The head of government renewed his criticism that the federal government had drawn up the law without involving the federal states - "although we were assured of intensive involvement".
Kretschmann sees a pattern in this.
"The federal government says so, and the states have to take responsibility for it." In recent years, there have mostly been questions of financing.
“Here and now it is about a good that cannot be weighed with money because it is irreplaceable.
It's about the health of the citizens."
From March 20th - i.e. this Sunday - the federal law plans only provide for a mask requirement in nursing homes, clinics and in local transport and a test requirement in homes and schools.
Like some other states, Baden-Württemberg wants to use a planned transition period and maintain the currently applicable protection rules until April 2nd.
Kretschmann said: "But after that it's over.
The new federal law does not provide more than this transitional regulation, which is also just a last resort.” dpa
