Coalition crash over the end of the mask requirement in Brandenburg

Created: 01/04/2023Updated: 01/04/2023 15:25

Jan Redmann, CDU parliamentary group leader, speaks.

© Soeren Stache/dpa

The CDU and the Greens have long been publicly arguing their differences of opinion within the Brandenburg Kenya coalition.

Now there is noise again - this time about a possible end to the mask requirement.

Potsdam - The CDU parliamentary group in the Brandenburg state parliament is questioning the cabinet decision on the possible end of the mask requirement in mid-February: "An extension of the mask requirement in local public transport is not justified given the current corona numbers," said CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann on Wednesday according to the announcement .

Health Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens), on the other hand, emphasized again that the mask requirement on buses and trains should be retained for the time being.

There is still a tense situation in the hospitals “because of Corona, because of influenza, because of the RV virus,” said Nonnemacher.

The burden and staff shortages in the clinics are still very high.

"And that's why I'm of the opinion that one shouldn't add measures that are as ineffective as a mask requirement in public transport." Everything that breaks chains of infection and reduces the pressure still makes sense at the moment.

On the other hand, Redmann referred on Wednesday to the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the mask requirement in local transport was abolished in December.

There was no significant effect on the infection process there.

"There is no basis for a further extension until mid-February," emphasized Redmann.

Government spokesman Florian Engels said on Tuesday that the cabinet had agreed to extend the Corona regulation, probably next Tuesday (January 10).

In coordination with as many countries as possible, a date should be set for the end of the mask requirement in local public transport.

"After preliminary talks with the Berlin Senate Chancellery, mid-February is preferred," said the government spokesman.

Redmann vehemently contradicted this on Wednesday.

"Contrary to reports to the contrary, there was no agreement within the coalition on Tuesday," he said.

"The date brought up by Berlin seems to have more to do with the day of the House of Representatives elections on February 12 than with the current infection situation."

The parliamentary group leader of BVB/Freie Wahler in the state parliament, Péter Vida, then asked Redmann to ensure that his group in the parliamentary health committee voted against an extension of the corona restrictions.

"Mr. Redmann has been calling for an end to the Corona rules for months, but his group in the committee always voted for the extension." The Free Voters are also campaigning for an end to the restrictions.

Left parliamentary group leader Sebastian Walter had already declared on Tuesday evening that "restrictions on fundamental rights must be decided on the basis of the law and not on the coalition bazaar".

"The abolition of the mask requirement is correct if the numbers in the clinics do not indicate any major burdens in the clinics," said Walter.

dpa