Dispute over possible corona relief triggered

Berlin. Before the presultations of the prime ministers with Chancellor Angela Merkel on the procedure for corona apandemia on Wednesday there was a dispute over possible loosening prospects. It is not only about the question of whether there are already relief possible until the end of the currently decided blocking on February 14, but also about which facilities may be reopened first.

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) promised to improve the situation soon. "I think it is responsible if the steps are manageable and we have a social understanding that with increasing number of infections, less public life is necessary again," said Kretschmer from the "Leipziger Volkszeitung". He competed against Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), who had rejected loosening measures last Tuesday. "I don't share the opinion that we cannot solve anything at all," said Kretschmer.

The Lower Saxony Prime Minister Stephan Weil was more careful. "I cannot imagine that there will be relevant opening steps," said the SPD politician about the "T-Online" portal. "We will have significant restrictions after February 14," said Weil. He demanded that the federal and state governments quickly pass a uniform step-by-step plan, when and according to which rules should be initiated which specific loosening steps. Several federal states have already created such gradual plans themselves. At the last conference of the Prime Minister, the work on a common concept was agreed.

Social Democrats and Children's Rights activists call for school openings

SPD politicians and child protection activists primarily advocate the opening of daycare centers and schools. Children and adolescents have "the greatest burden of pandemic," said Federal Minister of Family Affairs Franziska Giffey from the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung" (FAS). Therefore, the schools would have to be opened gradually before the restrictions are relaxed in other areas. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the President of the German Children's Aid Work, Thomas Krüger, submitted similar explanations.

The chairman of the CSU regional group in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, does not necessarily see the schools first. Dobrindt told the "Munich Merkur" that he could rather imagine loosening the performance -based services.

The Minister of State for Integration, Annette Widmann-Mauz, called for a more precise monitoring of children from pedagogically disadvantaged families if the closure is extended. "Families and especially mothers who often wear the main load need help with the accompaniment of their children at school age - especially if they have not lived here for so long, have little knowledge of German and cannot use social networks," said the CDU politician of the editorial network Germany (RND). "It is necessary to promote the civic engagement of educational mentors who support children and their parents," continues Widmann-Mauz. Existing programs should be expanded and schools should be closely connected to educational experts. "Because now it's about mobilizing a comprehensive network of all forces to secure the children's educational opportunities for the future," says Widmann-Mauz.

According to a survey, the Germans disagree with the fight against pandemic. According to the YouGov election institute, 37 percent advocate an expansion of the previous restrictions beyond February 14 and another 13 percent even an tightening. In contrast, 30 percent supports relaxation and 13 percent of a complete return to normal. 7 percent did not state any information.