display
WELT AM SONNTAG:
On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), but also heads of government such as Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) had to admit the Easter break error.
How did you take the apology?
Stefan Aust:
For me it was a declaration of bankruptcy and not a real excuse for your own misconduct.
She took responsibility on the grounds that as Chancellor she is responsible for everything.
But she should have made it clearer that it was her idea with which she failed terribly, and that in such an important situation.
Some prime ministers now feel they are being fooled for good reasons.
From my point of view, the Chancellor's resignation would have been the right step, because now all trust in her future policy has been lost, and so it is hardly possible to continue to rule vigorously.
WELT AM SONNTAG:
Do you believe that this process will have an impact on future decisions?
display
Aust:
As you can see, that is not the case.
It goes on happily.
The mere discussion of whether a travel ban can be imposed shows that nothing has been learned from the Easter rest debacle.
Mallorca could impose an entry ban, the federal government can demand tests - but thinking about banning citizens from leaving is something completely different and unfortunately reminds a little of the GDR.
WELT AM SONNTAG:
If you just let the country managers do their thing in their field, would more practical ideas be born from which others could then learn in turn?
Aust:
Absolutely.
Good ideas and successes will quickly find imitators if you let the local people make it into the districts and communities.
The form of wanting to dictate this from above through ever new ordinances and decrees has now demonstrably and permanently failed.
display
Stefan Aust is editor of WELT AM SONNTAG. Jörn Lauterbach asked the questions.