Steinmeier's Take: Coronavirus Measures Strained Democracy, But Necessary
- Imposed Corona Restrictions Essential - Steinmeier: A Weight on Democracy
In the midst of reduced operations and closed shops, schools, and universities, Steinmeier asserted that while coronavirus restrictions were essential, they put a significant strain on democracy. He elaborated, "Preventing face-to-face interactions? That's a hefty blow to democracy." The lack of discussion, engagement, and protest during this time left a void, as "democracy needs the constant dialogue of society with itself."
Steinmeier acknowledged that the pandemic left deep wounds, with many losing loved ones in isolation, young people suffering from contact restrictions and some experiencing lasting psychological damage. He emphasized the importance of processing these experiences, seeking out what worked, what didn't, and what potentially caused harm.
In a candid manner, he questioned if mass school closures were truly necessary, whether restrictions on basic rights like the freedom of assembly were unavoidable, and whether the public discourse surrounding vaccine mandates may have caused harm. Unfortunately, he lamented that an agreement on processing this pandemic period was unattainable during the last legislative period.
However, Steinmeier saw this as an opportunity for democracy to grow stronger. "Our society must win back as many people and their trust in democracy and its institutions as possible," he stressed, especially given the recent election results. He assured that this wasn't about retribution, but rather focusing on being more resilient and robust for future crises, thereby shielding our democracy.
Following his speech, Steinmeier conversed with experts about the societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic. This discussion, held at Bellevue Palace, involved professionals from various fields like medicine, education, economics, local government, culture, and volunteering. In early 2020, the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Germany, paving the way for extensive measures to control the virus's spread in the country.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Coronavirus
- Democracy
- Trust
- Societal Impact
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a discussion with experts at Bellevue Palace, critiqued the measures implemented to control the societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic, expressing concerns about their impact on democracy.
- Steinmeier highlighted the importance of regaining the trust of the public, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and its resulting restrictions, as an essential step towards strengthening democracy.
- Following the extensive measures taken to manage the coronavirus pandemic in Germany, Steinmeier underscored the need for society to learn from the experience, focusing on what worked, what didn't, and potential harms, to build a more resilient and robust democracy for future crises.
