Anticipates Bund-Länder Conference on Thursday, as stated by Woidke
Dietmar Woidke, the Minister President of Brandenburg and a member of the SPD party, has expressed concern about the implications of a closed retail trade and the ongoing coronavirus situation in Germany. In a series of statements, Woidke has indicated a preference for discussing matters before making decisions, suggesting that he and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will carefully consider the potential consequences of any new measures.
According to reports, Woidke and Merkel are expected to meet digitally on Thursday for a Minister Presidents' Conference to discuss further measures to combat the coronavirus. The meeting will involve state leaders and the Federal Chancellor, and is likely to be the platform for deliberations on new COVID-19 restrictions or plans for further pandemic measures in August 2025.
However, as of this week, there is no confirmed news about such discussions or plans. The most recent detailed government COVID-19 policy updates referenced relate mostly to past measures from 2021 and earlier stages of the pandemic, not to discussions occurring this week.
Despite the lack of official confirmation, speculations about a further tightening of measures after Christmas have been met with criticism by Woidke. He has also expressed annoyance about the opening of carnival events, which are being suggested despite ongoing discussions about further corona measures. The potential consequences of carnival events are a point of concern for Woidke, and he has emphasised the importance of prior discussion before making decisions.
The current corona situation in Germany cannot be tolerated, according to Woidke. He has called for a meeting with Merkel this week to evaluate the situation and discuss further measures if necessary. The agreement for this meeting was reached on Monday evening.
References:
[1] German Government COVID-19 Policy Updates (Accessed August 2025) [2] Past COVID-19 Measures in Germany (Accessed August 2025) [3] National Security Council and Border Checks (Accessed August 2025)
Other politicians, apart from Woidke and Merkel, might be focusing on general-news topics instead of discussing the potential implications of further COVID-19 measures, given the recent focus on past updates and the lack of confirmed news about new discussions. Woidke, however, has continuously emphasized the need for thorough discussion and consideration before implementing any new corona measures, whether they pertain to retail trading or cultural events like carnival events.
