Compulsory vaccination failed in Germany, heated debate

The first failure for the ruling coalition came at noon, following a row over the voting procedure. Government parliamentary groups in the Bundestag failed to succeed in voting on the bills. The CDU / CSU opposition succeeded with its proposal to vote once on the draft law on a vaccination obligation for people over the age of 60, brought by the governing coalition. The SPD, the Greens and the FDP had called for an early vote on the Union’s request to prepare a possible vaccination obligation.

Then the second failure. The draft law of the coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP did not get the required parliamentary majority: 296 deputies voted for the obligation to vaccinate from the age of 60, while 378 were against, 9 German deputies abstained. With this the government bill was overturned. Other draft laws were in line for voting. But even the Union’s proposal, which provided for the situation to be decided in the fall, whether compulsory vaccination would be required, did not get a parliamentary majority and was rejected. 497 deputies voted against, only 172 deputies were in favor. The other two requests were for the rejection of the obligation to vaccinate in its entirety.

Fierce debate

In a heated debate but with arguments, The Bundestag has previously debated the obligation to vaccinate. Supporters of a 60-year-old vaccination obligation have warned of a worsening pandemic situation in the autumn, for which we need to be prepared. Opponents referred to the state interference in basic rights through a vaccination obligation and stressed that it is not known whether we will have a new aggravation of the pandemic again.

Due to the slow progress of vaccination, Chancellor Scholz at the end of the year spoke out on compulsory vaccination. There are currently at least 63.2 million Germans or 76% of citizens with full vaccination, two doses. But the vaccination campaign is currently almost over./DW

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