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WORLD:
Schleswig-Holstein was a kind of model country for a long time during the Corona crisis.
Now you have one negative record after another.
What did you do wrong?
Daniel Günther:
We were always relatively good with our numbers because we reacted consistently and early on.
That is still the case now.
Nevertheless, we cannot completely separate ourselves from the federal trend.
I very much hope that the numbers will go down again after Christmas.
WELT:
But it would have been better if you and the other prime ministers had listened to Ms. Merkel in the autumn, wouldn't it?
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Günther:
There was a Prime Minister's Conference in October in which the Chancellor spoke out in favor of significantly tougher measures.
Without wanting to act like Mr. Schlau, who has always known everything better: Together with my colleague Manuela Schwesig from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, I also advocated taking stricter measures.
The decision was then different.
WELT:
The result of this decision is that the clinics nationwide are warning of overcrowding.
What happens if there are no more ICU beds over Christmas and New Years?
And no ventilation places?
Günther:
We have, here in the north and also nationwide, a well-functioning cooperation among the clinics.
We're helping each other.
At the moment, 26 percent of the available intensive care beds in Schleswig-Holstein are still free.
And there are also reserves that we could mobilize if the worst comes to the worst.
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WORLD: In
view of the ongoing dynamic of the infection situation, would it be better to impose a curfew after all?
Günther:
We have already taken tough measures and are consistently implementing them.
In the end, it now depends on each and every one of us to go along this path.
Everyone must know that it is imperative to have as little contact as possible with people outside the household, even on Christmas and New Year's Eve.
RKI demands - "Do not travel"
Usually it is the biggest wave of travel of the year, now airports and train stations are deserted for Christmas.
The medical association appeals to the federal and state governments to ban church services at Christmas in view of the high number of infections.
Source: WELT / Christoph Hipp
WORLD:
Are you afraid that the situation will escalate?
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Günther:
The situation is undoubtedly dramatic.
From my point of view, the lockdown could have taken effect earlier.
Now it is there, and most people follow the rules.
My hope is that the situation will stabilize by mid-January.
WELT:
When you look back: Could it be that federalism, which was useful in the first few months of combating the crisis because you could regionally limit drastic measures, is now rather a hindrance?
Günther:
Federalism is not the problem, but the key to the best possible solution.
This applies to the federal states as well as to the municipalities, where we now have very well-established health authorities that have been in control of the situation for a long time.
One has to question whether the countries have used their skills sufficiently and in good time.
Or whether you were too hesitant where the number of infections was very high.
With his very, very tough course, my colleague Michael Kretschmer in Saxony ultimately proved that in federalism you don't have to wait for the other countries, but can act yourself.
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WORLD:
Speaking of federalism: Can you actually understand that Saxony-Anhalt has stopped the new interstate broadcasting agreement?
Günther:
No.
Zero.
We have discussed the topic widely.
There were other suggestions on the table.
The commission to determine the financial needs, KEF, has proposed a very moderate increase in the license fee - in this respect I find Saxony-Anhalt's approach extremely bitter.
WORLD:
Could it be that you have to approach the matter more fundamentally?
74 public radio stations, 21 television stations, seven media libraries.
That doesn't sound really up to date.
Does public broadcasting have to reposition itself in general?
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Günther:
Public broadcasting is one of our country's strengths that I am proud of.
Nevertheless, we have been pushing for reform from Schleswig-Holstein for years.
There were corresponding proposals which, among other things, provided more personal responsibility for the broadcasters.
That failed because of the resistance of a few countries.
WORLD:
Back to Corona.
When it comes to vaccination, the topic of great hope, there has also been bad news recently.
Not enough vaccine.
Later start of the vaccination campaign.
When does it really start for you?
Günther:
The news that the vaccine will be approved earlier than planned was very positive.
The lower number of vaccination doses dampens the joy a little.
But I have the hope that this will not be the last word.
In Schleswig-Holstein, 15 of 29 vaccination centers are already ready to go.
We want to start vaccinations there in January.
For people who are particularly at risk due to their age or previous illnesses, it should start this year.
WORLD:
Is it true that your country will initially only get 17,000 vaccine doses?
Günther:
That is the amount that was announced to us for the first delivery.
That would be enough for 8,500 people.
In January there will be considerably more vaccine doses.
WORLD:
Is it correct to vaccinate people over 80 first, although on average they probably have the fewest contacts?
Or would it be more sensible to first vaccinate more mobile and also at risk groups such as teachers in addition to the medical staff - and thus limit the spread of the virus?
Source: dpa;
Infographic WORLD / Jörn Baumgarten
Günther:
The Vaccination Commission and all the organizations involved in the vaccination plans have made a very smart suggestion for the sequence in which vaccinations should take place.
We'll stick to that.
We must first protect those who are at risk of severe disease.
And then those professional groups that inevitably have a particularly large number of contacts.
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WORLD:
When will the situation ease?
Günther:
In the second half of the year at the latest.
I'm pretty sure that over the summer we'll be able to return to normal as much as possible.
There will then be minor restrictions, the virus is not gone either - but we will have freed ourselves from this threat and be able to enjoy our freedoms again.
WORLD:
That would be pretty punctual for the federal election campaign.
How much would you like the Chancellor to change her mind and run again?
Günther:
Angela Merkel made her decision so clearly that none of my wishes would help either.
There will be no late Christmas presents from her.
WORLD:
Who will be the next Federal Chancellor?
Günther:
I don't want to give a tip.
I hope that it will be provided by the Union.
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WORLD:
Maybe Jens Spahn after all?
It is pushing its way into the foreground right now.
Günther:
Jens Spahn is a good crisis manager.
He does his job well, and I find that very beneficial.
WORLD:
And the three candidates for the CDU chairmanship?
Would that also be good crisis managers?
Günther:
One of them is a good crisis manager: Armin Laschet.
That's why I support him in his application for party leadership.
WORLD:
Will the new party leader automatically become a candidate for chancellor?
Günther:
That is not a law.
The CDU and CSU will sit down and agree on a common candidate.
WORLD:
So in the end it will be Markus Söder.
If you take popularity ratings and surveys as a basis, there is no getting around it.
Günther:
It is obviously paying off that Markus Söder is a successful Prime Minister.
Many people honor that, not only in the south of the country, by the way, but also here in the north.
And that is why Markus Söder will have a very important say in the question of who will be the Union’s candidate for chancellor in the Bundestag.
WORLD:
So Friedrich Merz does not play a role in your considerations?
Günther:
Everything that is necessary has been said.
All of the statements that Friedrich Merz has made in the past few weeks confirm my judgment that Armin Laschet is the best candidate for the party chairmanship.
WORLD:
When should the Union nominate the candidate for chancellor?
Günther:
We definitely don't have any time pressure.
The SPD nominated its candidate very early on - nobody notices that.
The Greens have not yet put up a candidate - and nobody notices.
Church services, Christmas visits and the fear of the third wave
Christmas is just around the corner and with it many family visits all over Germany.
This could lead to a third wave, not only fears the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer.
Source: WELT / Eybe Ahlers