For the first time, the Chancellor hears a loud contradiction from his Minister of Health.
Wien. The dispute about further openings escalated on Saturday. After Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) conferred with the governors of Tyrol and Salzburg on Friday and promised further easing, Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) stepped on the brakes so that it squeaked.
“Dispensable”. Mückstein publicly criticized the Chancellor’s announcements as “expendable” and “far too early”. In an interview with AUSTRIA, he says: “Announcements shortly after the first easing came into force cause confusion.” The cautious doctor first wants to look at the effects of the current opening and make a decision “on the basis of prognostic data” in a week at the earliest. Already in his inaugural speech in parliament, Mückstein said: “Health is the most important thing to me.” For him, the announcements from Kurz are “castles in the air”.
Counterattack. After these violent words, the ÖVP immediately sent Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger to the arena. She is “very surprised at the statements of the health minister” and vehemently calls for an early easing: “We cannot permanently prescribe adult people that they are allowed to meet a maximum of four people, especially if they are vaccinated.”
Debate until Friday for the next Corona summit
Big noise. Behind the scenes, the argument that has now become so violent has already built up over the past few days. ÖVP people eagerly phoned the Ministry of Health – on Friday Mückstein even traveled back to Vienna earlier from the state health consultants’ conference in Graz, even before a press conference announced with him.
As early as Thursday, the Chancellor had not ruled out the end of the mask requirement, and immediately afterwards the Ministry of Health announced (in a gentle tone) that it wanted to wait.
Countries put pressure on. In short, the publicity needs good, announces the easing but also under pressure from the provincial governors, who want to get rid of all restrictions by the start of the season on July 1st. Tyrol and Salzburg are hoping for German tourists, the Carinthian regional chief Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) wants a later curfew.
One of the country leaders prefers to be cautious: Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ).
promise. In any case, Kurz promised easing of “distance regulations, square meter restrictions and curfew” on Friday.
In the AUSTRIA interview, Mückstein relented at least on one point: outdoor masks (for example in the guest garden) will soon be over, indoors it is easier to use MNS instead of FFP2.
In any case, the next easing summit is on Friday – until then there will be further discussions. (Bra)
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