Saturday 20th November 2021
“That won’t happen”
Traffic light politicians reject compulsory vaccination for everyone
Austria is introducing it, CSU boss Söder also considers it to be inevitable for Germany: In the middle of the fourth wave, a debate about a general corona vaccination has broken out. The future government coalitionists, on the other hand, categorically rule out such a step.
After the announcement of a general corona vaccination obligation in neighboring Austria, German politicians of the traffic light parties are ruling out such a regulation for Germany. “There won’t be,” said the SPD politician and Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to the TV broadcaster of the “Bild” newspaper about a general corona vaccination requirement. As a justification he said: “Because we do not consider it necessary, because we also consider it difficult from a constitutional point of view.”
The FDP health politician Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus criticized Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder because he was open to a corona vaccination requirement. “Putting the general compulsory vaccination as a threat in the room does not help anyone,” she told the “Bild” newspaper. “Especially the countries with dramatic Corona numbers should concentrate on expanding the vaccination offers as agreed and implementing the new Corona measures.”
In Austria, a new corona lockdown begins on Monday, which also affects vaccinated people and should last a maximum of 20 days. In addition, everyone in Austria must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus on February 1st – otherwise, there is a risk of fines. Austria is the first country in Europe to take such tough measures in the face of the latest corona wave. The nationwide seven-day incidence in the Alpine republic was over 1000 on Friday – in Germany the nationwide value was 340.
CSU boss Söder had pleaded for a general vaccination requirement on Friday. “I believe that in the end we will not be able to avoid compulsory vaccination,” he said. “Otherwise it’ll be an endless loop with this crap corona.” A lockdown, as he has now imposed on Bavaria, is “not a long-term solution”. He also expressed doubts as to whether partial compulsory vaccination is really sufficient for individual occupational groups and “may be the only solution for next year”.