Michael Müller versus Markus Söder, the incumbent chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference against the previous one. That’s how it works, but that’s not how it is.
Specifically: From Müller’s point of view, another meeting of the country heads before Christmas, this Thursday, is not absolutely necessary due to Corona. Why not? Because he thinks like this: necessary appointments have long been made, sufficient leeway is left. Those who have high numbers and want or have to do more can also do so on the basis of – for the time being – the most recent resolutions.
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If there is a discrepancy with Söder, then here: Bavaria’s MP now wants to make nationwide decisions out of it. Which, even if it sounds like it at times, is by no means seen by every Prime Minister. Not just Müller: Brandenburg’s Dietmar Woidke, for example, emphasizes – perhaps a little more alertly than Müller – on the one hand his “openness” to talk to colleagues and the federal government. According to the motto: If that’s what they want …
You have to be able to enforce the rules
However, like Müller, Woidke “the previously approved instrument kit” is enough to enforce regional regulations. According to the current situation, this approach can actually be considered appropriate. Woidke says that too. Because all MPs can do anything, they just have to (be able to) enforce it.
Which brings us back to Berlin. According to the survey, the Berliners are not satisfied with the corona policy of the Senate (i.e. Müller). You are the least satisfied in Germany. But is that a surprise? Rather not. It would be one thing if the Berliners had nothing to complain about; the majority would also be dissatisfied with a hard lockdown in the Söder style. Even more if it were announced in an authoritarian tone.
In other words: If Müller wanted to give the Söder here, here, in this diverse, headstrong metropolis – the displeasure would be great, the streets would fill with grumbling. Heinrich Mann once wrote “The Subject”; he doesn’t live here. The word of the need for “leadership” is easy to say. But if it is led, possibly even tightly, then the Berliner is the first to protest against it. The “authorities” must be careful here so that they are not undermined.
Müller, in his old (government) days, is downright stoic. He defies Söder, whom he obviously considers an actionist, insofar as he wants to react in a similar way to the practical constraints, only on the outside more calmly. Somehow it seems almost Brandenburg … That means: The governing mayor will act, but everything in its time. So a lockdown a la Müller. He does it, regionally, he just doesn’t scare you.
The governor shows up, perhaps a little too late to credit him, as head of government in his own right. And he’s right: after Christmas the lockdown can come, nobody needs to buy a sweater, as Müller says. If only he had been like that before.
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