How the FDP falters when it comes to compulsory corona vaccination

How the FDP falters when it comes to compulsory corona vaccination

In the struggle for the introduction of a general obligation to vaccinate, it turns out to be a tough lot to be liberal: the FDP is at least divided on the issue, opinions differ widely. Is there a compromise?

Yes, no, yes: Christian Lindner could be an example of the swaying and swaying that the debate about the introduction of general vaccination is currently for many in politics. Is it really needed, and if so, what might it look like? The FDP in particular appears at least at odds when looking for answers.

“Liberalism knows no religious congregation,” that is, not the one correct slogan, Lindner tried to explain in one attempt. The FDP leader outlined the “different considerations” that a liberal could come to: “On the one hand, compulsory vaccination would be a sensitive encroachment on the right to self-determination to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. Both positions enjoy “respect” in the FDP, its chairman assured.

For a party that sees people’s personal responsibility as the essence of their brand, this is definitely a dilemma. Lindner hasn’t taken a definitive stance either: That’s what he said during the election campaign, later and finally.

There are also supporters within the FDP for a mandatory spade: the traffic light coalition members decided, the liberals voted for it, as did the SPD and the Greens. But whether the obligatory injection should also be extended to the general population is controversial in the 92-strong parliamentary group.

The (internal) struggle for compulsory corona vaccination

Your chairman, Christian Dürr, now advised to take enough time for a decision. “Of course not for too long, of course”, . If a decision is made, they “certainly want to make it in the first quarter.” But there are still too many practical questions to be answered, such as effectiveness and design. “That’s one reason why I say very resolutely that I’m not committed yet,” said the FDP parliamentary group leader.

The (also internal) struggle for general vaccination is putting the traffic light coalition under increasing pressure. The announcement by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) that vaccination against the corona virus should apply in Germany until “beginning of February, beginning of March” can hardly be put into practice. The Schedule . And the Union, now the largest opposition party, .

True, but also that as a member of parliament he will vote for a corresponding group application and will not submit his own. Karl Lauterbach, his Minister of Health – and also a supporter of compulsory vaccination – also . What the Union recently criticized as the government ducking away (e.g. and ) is apparently Scholz’s attempt to keep the coalition peace: to rely on the FDP and on group applications.

FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki presented the first draft application – which speaks out against the introduction of a general obligation to vaccinate. According to his own statements, more than 30 parliamentarians are now supporting the motion, as he said, including members of the Union. It is “not a crime not to be vaccinated,” he said and defended his course. He considers the “excessive exclusion” of the unvaccinated to be “completely disproportionate”.

No common course

Gerhart Baum disagrees. The former interior minister under former chancellor Helmut Schmidt (SPD) criticized in a guest contribution for the course of his party – and the “one-sided interpretation” of Kubicki’s concept of freedom. Kubicki is “entering the realm of demagogy when he claims that the majority of society is taking ‘revenge and retaliation’ against the unvaccinated.” The FDP deputy and they assumed “revenge” on the unvaccinated as a motive. “We need the instrument of compulsory vaccination that is linked to proportionality,” demanded Baum, who, however, no longer sits in the Bundestag and therefore could not submit an application.

The FDP health expert Andrew Ullmann wants to launch a cross-party application for a graduated compulsory vaccination. “My goal is to submit an application to the German Bundestag that includes compulsory vaccination information and, if necessary, a graduated vaccination requirement,” said Ullmann on Friday in the .

An employee holds PCR test tubes in a corona test laboratory of the Limbach Group

He is in exchange with various MPs. Ullmann therefore proposes compulsory vaccination for the elderly, as a guideline he considers compulsory vaccination for people over the age of 50 to be worth considering. In Italy , the government had one , and after a short time .

Yes, no, yes: In the FDP parliamentary group, three positions are emerging – for the introduction of general compulsory vaccination, against it and for a staggered compulsory vaccination. But no clear, common course.

Source From: Stern

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