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What lessons can be learned from Corona policy? The traffic light factions are in principle in favor of dealing with the pandemic in a citizens’ council. But the Greens and FDP do not think this goes far enough.
The traffic light factions are in principle in favor of a citizens’ council reviewing Germany’s corona policy. But the Greens and FDP do not think this goes far enough. They are also calling for an inquiry commission to draw lessons from the pandemic years.
“In my view, the Citizens’ Council would be an absolutely suitable place to examine how the Corona pandemic was dealt with,” said Marianne Schieder, chair of the Citizens’ Council reporting group in the Bundestag, to the starThe SPD MP pointed out that the representative composition of a citizens’ council reflects society and that people who were significantly affected by the measures could be included in the process of coming to terms with the situation. “We as the SPD parliamentary group are therefore in favour of the next citizens’ council being tasked with this issue,” said Schieder.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a similar argument. He said on Sunday in the ARD program “Report from Berlin” that he was most keen on the idea of citizens’ councils dealing with the issue. Then not only experts and MPs would be involved, but also citizens. In retrospect, there were “a few decisions that went too far,” said the Chancellor.
FDP and Greens also for Corona Enquete Commission
The Greens and FDP also support a Corona Citizens’ Council, but are also calling for an Enquete Commission. “We believe that a package consisting of a Citizens’ Council and an Enquete Commission is appropriate so that we are better prepared for similar situations in the future,” said Maria Klein-Schmeink, deputy parliamentary group leader of the Greens, to the starThe FDP even considers an inquiry commission to be “absolutely” necessary. “A citizens’ council can add to the information, but it can never draw binding conclusions,” said Andrew Ullmann, health policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, to the star.
“The political investigation belongs in parliament,” demanded Ullmann. The responsibility had been with the political decision-makers, now it is the responsibility of parliamentarians to examine the decisions and draw conclusions from them. “It cannot and must not be the case that we as parliamentarians hand over responsibility for what happened to a motley assembly of citizens,” warned the FDP politician.
Citizens’ councils are set up by the Bundestag. The participants, who are randomly selected nationwide, develop recommendations for action that are included in parliamentary deliberations. The Bundestag decides what is implemented and what is not. Study commissions consist of members of parliament and external experts. They submit final reports to the Bundestag that contain recommendations for legislation.
It is unclear whether and how the investigation could be tackled in this legislative period. “We are currently in the process of coordinating between the traffic light factions,” said Green Party deputy faction leader Klein-Schmeink.
Source: Stern
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