Super loudspeaker event or longed-for normality? Unreasonable or no problem in times of a pandemic? Discordant opinions at Wiesn 2022, which will open this Saturday. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder wants to go to Oktoberfest without a mask, Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (both of the CSU) can imagine a “detour” at lunchtime.
On the other hand, virologists warn of an Oktoberfest Corona and the risk of infection, especially in beer tents. How do the 19 members of the Lower Franconian state parliament think?
CSU has the largest number of Oktoberfest fans
The wait for Oktoberfest is particularly great after two years of forced break in the ranks of the CSU. People are looking forward to a piece of normality, convivial and welcoming hours, they say. The district associations of the CSU Haßberge and Kitzingen organize their own bus trips.
Four CSU MPs do not want to miss the festival: Digital Minister Judith Gerlach (Aschaffenburg-Ost voting group), State Secretary Sandro Kirchner (Bad Kissingen), Barbara Becker (Kitzingen) and Steffen Vogel (Haßberge / Rhön-Grabfeld ).
“Celebrating in the community is also part of a healthy life,” says Becker. He will go to the Wies’n several times, privately and with colleagues from the state parliament. Before and after he wanted to prove himself for Corona. Where he gets too tight for her, he wants to wear an FFP2 mask, “otherwise I’m not wearing a mask, but a dirndl”.
Like Becker, CSU colleague Steffen Vogel relies on his triple vaccination and Covid healing, so he doesn’t feel the protective mask is necessary. He is delighted that all the popular festivals have been able to take place again in Lower Franconia, the population has had to do a lot without in the last two years. Home Secretary Kirchner is also grateful for a “step towards normality”; he wants to go to Oktoberfest both professionally and privately.
The three CSU MPs Berthold Rüth (Miltenberg), Thorsten Schwab (Main-Spessart) and Manfred Ländner (Würzburg-Land) are still undecided. The latter has just been infected with Corona and is reporting flu-like symptoms. It remains to be seen whether he will get back in shape in time.
As chairman of the party’s internal working group, he has always visited the Wiesn Police Station and the emergency services. He would like to do it again: “if so, then with a mask”. Thorsten Schwab only wants to be outdoors during a possible visit. And Berthold Rüth still doesn’t know if he will find the time to visit the Wiesn.
On the other hand, former Justice Minister Winfried Bausback (Aschaffenburg) has made a commitment: his schedule with many meetings and the necessary preparation leaves no room for this year’s Oktoberfest. Gerhard Eck (Schweinfurt electoral group) will also miss the festival this year.
Relying on protection through vaccination and recovery
School Secretary of State Anna Stolz (free voters, Main-Spessart) and Helmut Kaltenhauser (FDP) are other Wiesn fans. The Aschaffenburg liberal sees the pandemic “in a phase of personal responsibility”. Despite numerous contacts as a member of parliament, he was only infected this summer. He has also been vaccinated three times, “so I have some protection”.
When he approaches Oktoberfest and in the crowd, he wants to wear a mask, but not in the tent. “There will be almost only co-workers at the table. In this regard, I don’t think the risk is much higher than in normal daily work.” For Anna Stolz, folk festivals are part of the “Bavarian tradition”, if necessary she wears the mask.
The attitude of the Lower Franconian parliamentarians of the Greens and the SPD is completely different. They are unanimously opposed to the Oktoberfest visit, partly out of basic aversion, partly because of the risk of infection in Crown times. The Greens Kerstin Celina (district of Würzburg), Patrick Friedl (city of Würzburg) and Paul Knoblach (district of Schweinfurt) generally avoid the Wiesn. And in view of the infection process even more decisively.
“I prefer to go outdoors through the meadows rather than in a tent at the Wiesn,” says social policy Celina. She will probably voluntarily wear a mask more often in Munich during Oktoberfest so as not to be infected. Colleague Knoblach prefers the small Franconian wine festivals, which “strengthen the cohesion in the village”. Friedl prefers to go to nature or recreational parks with friends and family. Schweinfurt AfD MP Richard Graupner is also a mooch at the Wiesn. He has no plans to change it this year either.
Halbleib fears high rates of infection
You don’t arrive on time, according to the office of SPD MP Martina Fehlner (Aschaffenburg). Meanwhile, his SPD colleague Volkmar Halbleib (district of Würzburg) refers to the experiences of the Straubinger Gäubodenfest: The number of infections there had skyrocketed in August.
In addition, a large number of international guests come to Oktoberfest. The Ochsenfurt politician warns that the risks for the spread of a new variant should not be underestimated. This year he will cancel his appointments at the Wiesn and is looking forward to “meeting at minor festivals in Mainfranken”.
Lower Franconian state parliament members: visiting Wiesn 2022?
Definitely go: Barbara Becker, Judith Gerlach, Sandro Kirchner, Steffen Vogel (all CSU)
Do not go: Winfried Bausback, Gerhard Eck (both CSU), Kerstin Celina, Patrick Friedl, Paul Knoblach (all Verdi), Martina Fehlner, Volkmar Halbleib (both SPD), Richard Graupner (AfD).
Not yet decided: Berthold Rüth, Thorsten Schwab, Manfred Ländner (all CSU)
No response to the request: Gerald Pittner (free voters), Christian Klingen (not enrolled)
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