No mask requirement: Canada trip by Scholz and Habeck in the criticism

Created: 08/23/2022, 11:05 am

By: Vincent Bussow

Masks are not compulsory on the government flight from Scholz and Habeck to Canada.

The government's justification also caused criticism.

Berlin/Montreal – The trip to Canada by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economics Minister Robert Habeck has been criticized.

The more than 80 passengers did not wear masks to protect against corona infection on the outward flight, as shown by photos from Sunday (August 21).

The question arises as to why different rules apply to government flights than to other trips.

Lufthansa and Armin Laschet are also taking part in the debate.

The trip by Olaf Scholz and his Vice Chancellor should actually focus on supplying Germany with liquid gas.

However, the recordings of the outward flight also cause a stir, as Robert Habeck can be seen there close together with journalists – without a mask.

The federal government has now confirmed that there was no obligation to wear a mask on the flight.

This is not applicable “on Air Force flights,” said a spokesman.

During his trip to Canada with Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck can be seen talking to journalists on the plane – without a mask.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Scholz and Habeck in the criticism: No mask requirement on Canada trip

Habeck's recordings caused some criticism on social media.

For example, the former CDU leader and chancellor candidate Armin Laschet wrote on Twitter on Monday that journalists and members of the government were “ignoring (nonsensical, but applicable) laws”.

In the run-up to the federal election, Laschet himself was noticed several times because he was not wearing a mask.

Criminal law attorney Udo Vetter also questioned the legal basis for the federal government's arguments.

In his interpretation of the Infection Protection Act, there is no regulation that removes the obligation to wear a mask to protect against corona on government flights.

Fellow journalists defended the mask-free trip to Canada.

For example, the editor-in-chief at T-Online's office in the capital, Miriam Hollstein, pointed out that "all fellow passengers had to present a PCR test" that was not allowed to be older than 24 hours.

A Twitter user who then asked whether this applied to all flights was corrected by Lufthansa: "A negative PCR test does not exempt you from wearing a mask." (vbu with dpa)