YouTuber Rezo is reckoning with German corona policy

“More than stupid”
YouTuber Rezo is reckoning with corona politics

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Corruption, hostility towards science, refusal to work: Youtuber Rezo is talking about his frustration with the German corona policy in a new video. Several prime ministers get off very badly – especially those of the CDU.

Rezo’s “destruction videos” are as well known as they are feared: If the Youtuber reveals the undesirable developments in politics or the media, he does not mince his words. Rezo released one of these clips on Easter Monday. This time he took on the German corona policy – and did not let it go.

In the pandemic, politicians failed to set a “concrete medium to long-term goal” from the start. Instead, many developments were reacted to “far too late”, criticizes Rezo, and cites the mask requirement as an example. Politicians would have hesitated too long here, although scientists and celebrities had spoken out in favor of it early on. That was a year ago, the mask is now almost a natural part of everyday life. But those responsible have not learned from it in the pandemic policy, Rezo points out, on the contrary.

Rezo accuses politicians of corruption

The list of his allegations is long: the well-known Youtuber attests the decision-makers either enmity, refusal to work, incompetence, corruption or hostility to science. For example, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who did not want to be vaccinated with the Astrazeneca vaccine because he did not want to dictate anything to himself: “That would be an insult to children if you call this behavior childish,” complains Rezo emotionally, as usual, and calls Seehofer’s refusal “more than stupid” and “misanthropic”.

The mask affair in the Union is also an issue. Rezo openly accuses politicians of corruption who made money with masks and rapid tests during the pandemic. And he refers to the state aid for large corporations like Daimler: While small companies would suffer from the crisis, these corporations would have received several million in taxpayers’ money – and would now pay dividends to their shareholders. Rezo identified a whole “principle of corruption” in German politics: “It is no coincidence that the people from Daimler receive the taxpayers’ money.” Companies such as Lufthansa and Tui had also received state aid. His summary: “The super-rich get even richer, from taxpayers’ money.”

Refusal to work and hostility to science: Laschet and Co. in the pillory

The disappointment with politics during the corona pandemic should be noted in Rezo – more than that: The internet star with the blue hair seems shocked by the way the federal government and prime minister present themselves. Here, too, his verdict is merciless: he accuses the leaders of “refusing to work” and describes the Union politicians in particular as a “bunch of incompetent dullis”. With this, Rezo alludes, among other things, to a statement by the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, who urged the population to be more “self-responsible” over Easter instead of stipulating politically stricter rules. It is the task of politicians to direct, says Rezo: “And if you don’t do that, then you’re not doing your job.”

“The most glaring thing”, however, according to Rezo towards the end of the 13-minute long video, is the political elite’s “hostility to science”, “the fundamental attitude of behaving irrationally”. As examples, he again mentions Kretschmer and the Prime Ministers Volker Bouffier (Hesse) and Armin Laschet (North Rhine-Westphalia). They had all announced in the past few weeks that they had underestimated the virus – although scientists had long warned of a third wave. These voices were obviously not taken seriously, criticized Rezo: “It hurts physically, how stupid it is.”

He accuses leading politicians of “deep-seated disrespect for scientific knowledge, for the principles of logic, for rational thinking, for the laws of nature” – and shows what that means for other challenges such as the climate crisis. “In any crisis, inaction is the worst thing you can do,” said Rezo.

Above all, the Union has come under fire

Compressed in 13 minutes, the Youtuber summarizes the mood of many Germans when it comes to Corona politics – somewhere between disappointment, disbelief and resignation. This is also shown by the largely positive reactions of his subscribers. Many lack clear leadership, goals and perspective. In the pandemic, Rezo utters what many think who have lost confidence in politics – even if most would say otherwise.

In 2019 the Youtuber became known throughout Germany with his video “The Destruction of the CDU”. Immediately before the European elections, Rezo had taken apart the ruling party’s climate policy. In the subsequent election, the Union suffered heavy losses – especially among young people, Rezo’s main target group. Even now you will have looked carefully and listened in the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus: In the new video, Union politicians are also only named as examples of the failed Corona policy.

Source: Rezo on Youtube

This article originally appeared on stern.de.

epp / star