Karl Lauterbach, new German Minister of Health and bête noire of antivax

Audio 03:31

Karl Lauterbach, the new German Minister of Health, on December 10, 2021 in Berlin.

© AP / DPA / Bernd von Jutrczenka

By: RFI Follow

3 min

Wednesday December 8, after 16 years of reign, Angela Merkel gave way to Olaf Scholz.

The Social Democratic leader and his government come to power in the midst of the fourth wave of Covid-19.

A pandemic which is essential as the first priority for the new coalition.

To face this challenge, the choice of Olaf Scholz fell on Karl Lauterbach.

Epidemiologist very present in the media, member for 16 years, the new Minister of Health has for him his hat of scientist.

Will he manage to convince politically?

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By

Martin Chabal,

from the International service of RFI

Since the start of the pandemic, Germany has woken up and gone to bed with the analyzes of Karl Lauterbach.

This 56-year-old doctor and epidemiologist has become one of the most renowned German specialists in the epidemic.

In the morning hours, the midday magazines, during the evening talk shows or on Twitter, he is everywhere and comments on everything.  

According to the German journalist Christian Parth, Karl Lauterbach " 

is above all a scientist

 ".

His medical training naturally established him as a recognized popularizer of the studies that were published on the coronavirus.

To the point of being seen as " 

the new messiah

 ", confides Christian Parth. 

For the German journalist, the education of the elected official has "established 

his credibility 

", but the politician has also made an impression.

During his public appearances, he cultivates his image.

At the start of his media career, he proudly wore his towering red bow tie, which he later ditched on his daughter's advice. 

The Germans' wish "granted"

Next spring, Karl Lauterbach will participate in a comedy show broadcast on Amazon Prime where he will slip into the shoes of a comedian, alone on stage.

We even hear her voice in the clip of a German singer who raises awareness about vaccination.  

When composing his government, Olaf Scholz, the new chancellor, understood the enthusiasm around this epidemiologist, elected SPD in the Bundestag.

During the presentation of the new ministers, he explained that he had quite simply granted the wish of the Germans: “ 

Many citizens wanted the next Minister of Health to be someone from the profession and that this person be called Karl Lauterbach. 

"

Since taking office, the professor of public health at Harvard, the university from which he graduated, wants to appear radical and rigorous.  

In the name of science, he advocates compulsory vaccination and the total closure of bars and restaurants.

But its radicalism could isolate it within a coalition which will have to show political pragmatism.

For Christian Parth, his image of " 

lone wolf 

" and " 

nerd 

" could also annoy within the government: " 

He is really very different from the standard German politician.

He is a scientist, he thinks like a scientist, not like a politician.

 " 

He no longer goes out without his bodyguards

Because of his positions in favor of vaccination, Karl Lauterbach has become the bête noire of antivax, the target of threats and insults.

His car has already been vandalized and he no longer goes out without his bodyguards. 

But for now, the new Minister of Health enjoys a nice popularity rating.

According to a survey published by

Der Spiegel

, 65% of Germans see him as the man for the job.  

For Patrick Hassenteufel, author of a report on the German health system during the pandemic for the French Institute of International Relations, "he 

is really a specialist in health policies 

".

With more than 20 years of experience, he has the expertise to manage the pandemic, then tackle the big job of digitizing the German health system.  

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  • Germany

  • Health and medicine

  • Coronavirus

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