Ramelow accuses Scholz of breaking his word on pandemic policy

Created: 03/18/2022, 13:38

Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke), Prime Minister of Thuringia.

© Jörg Carstensen/dpa

Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) indirectly certifies that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has broken his word on corona policy.

The Chancellor had expressly promised that cooperation with the federal states on the newly drafted Infection Protection Act was a matter of course, Ramelow said on Friday in the Bundesrat.

But then there was no participation by the federal states.

Berlin - The law was changed "without our expertise".

Then representatives of the government would have said in the media that the states could no longer hide behind the federal government.

"It's like getting a slap in the face.

I don't want to hide behind anyone, I want to fight off the pandemic," said Ramelow.

The countries would largely be deprived of the opportunity to do so.

"Vaccinate, test, keep your distance, wear a mask - these are the basics we have to work with."

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Günther: Approval of the Infection Protection Act despite criticism

Despite the high number of infections, the Bundestag had previously passed an amended Infection Protection Act with the abolition of most nationwide corona protection rules.

However, the federal states can, on their own responsibility, decide on further corona requirements for "hotspots" to be declared - which they regard as impractical and legally difficult due to the vague wording in the law.

It was expected that the Federal Council would allow the law to pass and not call on the mediation committee, as otherwise the protective requirements would no longer apply from Sunday.

dpa