Right at the beginning of the spring session, the corona virus led to a dispute under the dome of the Bundestag: National Council President Isabelle Moret prohibited SVP National Councilor Magdalena Martullo-Blocher from wearing a protective mask in the Council Chamber.
“She told me I had to take the mask off,” Martullo-Blocher (GR) told Keystone-SDA. The reprimanded woman then left the council chamber. Martullo-Blocher said that she had not yet decided whether she would return to the hall without a mask or stay away from the debate.
«I don’t want to infect anyone»
She didn’t want to infect anyone, she explained. Some council members were at risk. In addition, there is an increased risk of infection in the council, where you sit together for a long time and closely. You do not think the decision is correct. That also has to do with personal freedom, said the National Councilor.
The Vaud National Councilor Moret implemented a decision by the administrative delegation that exercises the house right. The parliamentary services said on request that the opinion that wearing a mask is indicated when a person feels sick is advised.
If someone wears a mask in the parliament building, the person will be asked about it and if symptoms of illness are asked to contact a doctor immediately. If the person has no symptoms, they are asked not to wear the mask in the building in order not to give the wrong signals.
No questions about traveling to high-risk areas
In Martullo-Blocher’s eyes, it sends the wrong signal not to wear a mask. In addition, the parliamentary operation was not consistent: she was not even asked whether she had traveled to a risk area, even though that was a requirement in the canton of Bern. Martullo-Blocher has the mask from her company. In the event of epidemics, there is always a stock of hygiene masks.
In the meantime, the administrative delegation has further restricted access to the parliament building. From Monday afternoon, journalists with easier day accreditation were no longer allowed to enter the parliament building.
(Aru / SDA)
Created: 02/03/2020, 04:29 PM
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