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Like many people these days, Peter Altmaier is sitting at home in his Berlin apartment.
The interview with the Federal Minister of Economics takes place via video conference.
The pandemic also determines the everyday life of the CDU politician.
For the second time this year, the minister has to draft aid programs for companies that have to close because of the pandemic.
A conversation about Christmas shopping as a patriotic duty, the second lockdown and a dense crowd in traffic.
WORLD:
Mr. Altmaier, you are sitting at home, does the Minister of Economic Affairs even work from home now?
Peter Altmaier:
I had contact with an employee who was infected.
That's why the health department decided that I have to be in quarantine, where I've been for a week.
Fortunately, all tests have been negative so far.
It is important and natural that politicians obey the rules just like other citizens.
I am also fully able to work from home and take care of all obligations from there.
In this crisis we have got used to video or telephone switching.
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WORLD:
What is your experience with the health department?
Did you feel that the authority was overloaded?
Altmaier:
I would like to express my great respect and thanks to the employees in the health authorities.
People work there who are highly motivated, who want to help contain the epidemic and who work with great dedication.
I already had contact with the health department in Berlin in September when I had to go into self-isolation for a few days after the EU trade ministers' meeting in Berlin.
Even back in September, the high level of pollution was clear because the number of infections was just exploding.
In the meantime, contact tracking is hardly possible not only in Berlin, but in large parts of Germany.
WORLD:
Nevertheless, Germans should be able to celebrate Christmas reasonably normally.
Have you already planned how you will spend the holidays?
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Altmaier:
To be honest, I haven't given that much specific thought.
I am concentrating on implementing the decisions of the Prime Minister's Conference together with the federal states as quickly as possible.
This year I will certainly not go away for the Christmas season, but spend a quiet Christmas and pick up a good book.
Because even over the Christmas period it is good to be reachable and available.
I expect that before the turn of the year we will have another considerable need for advice with the federal states.
WORLD:
You called on Germans to do Christmas shopping in local retail outlets and even declared that to be a patriotic duty.
At the same time, you demand that people only stay at home if possible.
That’s a contradiction.
Altmaier:
Not at all.
We decided not to close the shops in the run-up to Christmas, but at the same time tightened the distance rules for larger shops.
We can and must organize shopping in stores so that there is no unmanageable number of social contacts.
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WORLD:
Crowds should be avoided in the pedestrian zones, Germans have to travel close together on trains and planes, even at Christmas.
Why are there no stricter rules such as a reservation requirement on trains?
Altmaier:
This week between the federal government and 16 prime ministers we agreed on a common approach and that is important.
It is no secret that the federal government would have wished for even more effective measures.
We must therefore monitor closely over the next few days whether the number of infections is actually falling significantly, or whether there needs to be refinements and optimizations.
Personally, I still find it problematic when people have to stand very close together in public transport, especially at rush hours in work and school traffic - even if they are wearing masks.
WORLD:
As the owner and shareholder of Deutsche Bahn and Lufthansa, the federal government would have the opportunity to ensure that the distances are maintained.
Why don't you do that?
Altmaier:
I am very much in favor of keeping the necessary distances everywhere and increasing them wherever possible.
Deutsche Bahn has already adjusted its reservation system in long-distance traffic so that more distance can be maintained and announced that it will increase capacity in long-distance traffic from mid-December, for example through more frequent journeys on the main routes.
Of course, the question also arises in the case of buses and trains in local transport, when the number of available seats is less than the number of people who have to be transported during peak times.
These questions were also discussed with the Prime Ministers, for example whether additional capacities could be created by using, for example, the vehicles of coach companies.
It is a test for federalism that we find common solutions to such questions.
WELT:
But actually the meeting on Wednesday was supposed to create reliability and predictability.
Now the rules should possibly be changed again in December?
Altmaier:
We are going a step further with the measures we have decided in order to reduce the number of infections more significantly and faster than before.
That is why we will also discuss very carefully what happens after December 20th.
But the fact remains: We want people to be able to meet again at Christmas, but with a manageable number of people and in such a way that the risk of infection is not increased in an irresponsible manner.
WORLD:
The state interferes massively in people's private lives in the pandemic.
Does it really have to be?
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Altmaier:
Personal freedom of choice is extremely important to me, because there can only be real maturity under this condition.
But there is a difference between a daredevil racing driver or skater, whose behavior at most endangers himself, and this pandemic, where the exercise of personal freedom by a few, very many others can existentially endanger life and health.
Due to the high number of infections, the source of the infection can no longer be determined in four fifths of the cases.
But we know from experience that a particularly large number of infections occur in the private sphere, i.e. in the area from which the state should actually stay out.
Therefore the state has the right and the duty to intervene here as an exception.
It is also the expectation of the vast majority of people in Germany that the state will assume its leadership responsibility in this situation, which many perceive as existential.
WORLD:
Above all, companies want reliability and predictability.
Can the state even offer that at the moment?
Altmaier:
With regard to the course of the pandemic, it is very difficult to make a prediction because the virus is unfortunately not based on the wishes of the economics minister.
In other areas, however, we have created clear framework conditions.
In the energy sector, we have stipulated a reduction in the EEG surcharge for the next two years.
It is also very important for companies that social security contributions do not increase during this time.
We spend a lot of money on this.
We have also set up a comprehensive rescue package for companies and employees with numerous measures that will also apply in the next year.
We have extended the short-time working regulation until the end of 2021 and the bridging allowances until next summer.
We are not leaving companies and employees alone in this severe crisis.
And at the same time we are investing a lot of money in future technologies, such as hydrogen, so that our economy will still be competitive tomorrow.
WORLD:
Wouldn't reliability also include clearly communicating that the lockdown may take significantly longer?
Maybe by next spring?
Altmaier: A
lot depends on a vaccine.
But it was clear to me from the start that there had to be restrictions as long as the number of new infections was above a reasonable level.
This is not an arbitrary decision; it is based on the efficiency of health authorities and hospitals.
Since we did not manage to significantly reduce the number of infections within four weeks, it is clear that further measures are necessary.
WORLD:
So the lockdown will only be lifted when the incidence value is below 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants - even if that may not be until March?
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Altmaier:
As long as we see incidences of over 50 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in large parts of Germany, we will not have the pandemic under control.
We have three to four long winter months ahead of us.
Unfortunately, therefore, we cannot give the all-clear: it is possible that the restrictions will remain in place in the first few months of 2021.
WORLD:
How long can we afford the lockdown and billions in aid for affected companies?
Altmaier:
The aid we received so far was not only necessary and justified, it was also financially viable because we took precautions in good times.
But it is also true that with each month that the pandemic lasts, we have to keep asking ourselves whether the household numbers are still within the framework that we consider acceptable.
It is about the question of how far we will deprive future generations of the financial leeway to shape their own policies.
It is right when Finance Minister Olaf Scholz says that we can afford a lot.
But it is also part of the fact that we cannot afford everything that we could afford.
WORLD:
For years it was said that there was no money for tax breaks, the solidarity surcharge was not completely abolished.
And suddenly there seems to be endless money.
Altmaier:
Tax cuts have failed in the past few years mainly because the coalition partner was not prepared to provide comprehensive relief for the economy.
Of course, a lot has changed as a result of the corona pandemic and the unforeseen expenses associated with it.
So my priority is to make sure for the next few years that we don't raise taxes or introduce new ones.
I do not see any justification for the introduction of a wealth tax and I do not believe in taxing certain sections of the population more heavily.
We should also comply with the debt brake as soon as possible.
We have to return to normal here within the next legislative period.