State Secretary General of the FDP demands lifting of the state of emergency

In a recent statement, Volker Wissing, the General Secretary of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), has expressed concerns about the ongoing national emergency declared by the Bundestag on March 25 due to the rise in COVID-19 infection numbers.

Wissing believes that the current situation does not constitute a state of epidemic emergency, as it does not pose a systemic threat to public health. He is particularly concerned about the trend of shifting responsibility for crisis management to the government, which he views as more convenient but potentially dangerous.

The FDP leader has been vocal about the need for significant interventions in fundamental rights to combat the pandemic to be decided as far as possible by the parliament, not by governments. He is calling for an end to the state of national emergency and the return of responsibility for crisis management to the Bundestag as soon as possible.

One of the concerns raised by Wissing is the reduction in the number of intensive care beds in hospitals. He states that the decrease in the number of intensive care beds indicates that the danger of the coronavirus pandemic has decreased despite rising infection numbers. This reduction, he suggests, could be a sign of over-caution and misplaced prioritisation.

Despite his calls for action, the German federal government has not explicitly stated a public position on ending the national emergency. However, the Bundestag has enacted measures such as a nationwide "emergency brake" including curfews and restrictions, indicating ongoing management of the pandemic situation.

Wissing urges the Bundestag to do its job in managing the pandemic, and to take a more active role in decision-making. He believes that this would ensure a more balanced approach, one that respects both public health and individual freedoms.

As the pandemic continues to evolve, the debate over the appropriate response from the government and the parliament is likely to continue. Wissing's calls for a more active role for the Bundestag in managing the crisis reflect a growing concern among some politicians and the public about the long-term impact of the emergency measures on German society.