Members of the Bundestag Commission set to tackle the challenges of the Corona-affected year

The German Bundestag has established an Enquiry Commission on "Dealing with the Corona Pandemic and Lessons for Future Pandemic Events." The commission, tasked with rebuilding trust and processing decisions thoroughly, constructively, and self-critically, comprises 14 members and a number of experts from various political parties.

Among the members of the commission are advocates of strict Corona measures and prominent critics. The SPD has sent four Members of Parliament - Jens Peick, Daniel Rinkert, Lina Seitzl - along with experts Andrea Kießling, Michael Müller, and Isabel Rothe. Müller, a former mayor of Berlin and a proponent of a general vaccination obligation, is also involved in the Commission.

The CDU/CSU has sent experts including Stefan Kluge, Carolin Kubbe, Janet Steinbach-Putz, Christoph M. Schmidt, and Christian Weidner to the Commission. Meanwhile, the Left has sent Member of Parliament Ates Gürpinar and Expert Rolf Rosenbrock.

Alliance 90/The Greens have sent Members of Parliament Lena Gumnior and Paula Piechotta, along with Expert Armin Nassehi. Notable is the possibility that the Greens might add party-affiliated virologist Christian Drosten to their list of experts later. However, the search results do not specify which experts the Green Party will add to the Corona committee, nor do they mention the possibility of Drosten being included.

Julia Klöckner, the Bundestag President, stated that Germany generally coped well with the pandemic, with many restrictions being necessary. She spoke of a "unique break" for the healthcare system, economy, and society during the Corona years.

However, critics question the Commission's effectiveness, as it is not a committee that can summon witnesses. The focus, at present, is on forming an investigation committee regarding mask purchases and Drosten being investigated for his statements before a different committee.

As the commission delves into the country's response to the pandemic, it is expected to provide valuable insights and recommendations for future pandemic events. The findings of the commission will be crucial in shaping Germany's preparedness and response to any future health crises.