Mutual blockade accusations
The SPD and FDP are arguing about dealing with Corona
September 28, 2024, 4:23 p.m
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Clarification of Corona policy, yes, but how? There has been a dispute about this question, especially between the FDP and SPD. The first wants to deal with a study commission or a committee of inquiry, the second wants to convene a citizens’ assembly. Instead of a solution, there are accusations.
In the dispute over a comprehensive analysis of Corona, the FDP is insisting on a study commission, contrary to the ideas of the SPD. The FDP is “not available” for the citizens’ assembly favored by the SPD, said the parliamentary managing director of the FDP parliamentary group, Stephan Thomae. There is even talk of a “pseudo-enlightenment”. According to Thomae, the SPD shows “no serious interest in clarification”.
SPD parliamentary group vice-president Dagmar Schmidt told the partner newspapers of the Neue Berliner Editorial Society (NBR): “To our great regret, we have not yet been able to reach a sufficient agreement in the traffic light to deal with the corona pandemic as comprehensively and sustainably as we as the SPD would like. ” She accused the FDP of refusing to do so: “Unfortunately, our high demands for this sustainable approach to the pandemic could not be met with the FDP.”
Random selection?
The SPD had favored a citizens’ assembly. The first such parliamentary committee with randomly selected participants presented recommendations on nutrition policy. The FDP, on the other hand, proposes a study commission with MPs and experts.
“An exclusively social approach to the corona pandemic through a citizens’ assembly, as the SPD is calling for, is by far not enough,” said Thomae. The FDP won’t go along with that. “We want a comprehensive political and scientific review, we spoke out early on in favor of a parliamentary committee of inquiry and we also consider a real commission of inquiry with scientists to be a useful instrument. Because this is the only way we can ensure that mistakes are no longer repeated.” But there was resistance to this.
Does the SPD want to water down proposals?
With a view to the debates in the traffic light, Thomae spoke of “attempts to water down and weaken our proposals”. The FDP politician said: “Apparently the SPD has no real interest in a thorough investigation.”
Before the summer break, the three coalition partners had fundamentally agreed on a critical review of the pandemic. Chancellor Scholz spoke out in favor of the form of a citizens’ assembly. The third coalition partner, the Greens, recently appeared open to a citizens’ assembly or commission. The main thing is that there is a review of the Corona policy at all, they argue.
The Ministry of Health was essentially responsible for Corona policy, led by CDU politician Jens Spahn at the time of the Corona outbreak and the first waves of its spread in Germany. After the 2021 federal election, SPD man Karl Lauterbach took over. The general line was set by the Chancellery under Angela Merkel and then Olaf Scholz.
BSW and AfD are also calling for a committee of inquiry
Schmidt said: “We want to shed light on all levels: federal, state and local governments are involved, as are citizens.” She added: “Unfortunately, our high demands for this sustainable approach to the pandemic could not be met with the FDP.”
The responsible CDU MP Philipp Amthor sees this as “renewed evidence of the traffic light’s inability to act and reach agreement”. A few days ago, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) called for a Corona investigation committee. The AfD supports this.
