Merkel losing grip as eastern state moves to end lockdown

THE German state of Thuringia has become the first to announce it will lift the lockdown and allow citizens to make their own choices, in a move that further erodes Angela Merkel’s control over the response to the pandemic.

“Our motto will be recommendations instead of bans, and self-regulation instead of state compulsion,” Bodo Ramelow, the state leader, said.

He will reveal details of his plan later in the week, but an end to restrictions on movement and the compulsory wearing of face masks, as well as the full reopening of schools, are likely.

“We made our decision in March based on estimates of 60,000 infec- tions; we are now down to 245 [in Thuringia],” Mr Ramelow told Bild newspaper. “This success shows that restrictions were correct, but it also means we have to now make realistic decisions – meaning lifting the lockdown.”

The changes will be introduced on June 6, the day after an extended lockdown, agreed by Mrs Merkel with state leaders earlier this month, expires.

State leaders have repeatedly ignored the chancellor’s warnings not to move too fast as they compete to get their economies back up and running. The former communist east of the country, which includes Thuringia, has been particularly eager to reopen businesses because it has been spared the worst of the pandemic.

The rate of new infections across Germany has been declining for weeks.

Official figures yesterday showed 431 new infections over the previous 24 hours, down from a high point of close to 7,000 in early April. The reproduction rate of the virus has stayed consistently below one since last month.

Nonetheless, Mr Ramelow’s bold plan has been criticised in some quarters. Thomas Strobl, interior minister in Baden-württemberg, cautioned that “the virus is still out there” and warned against “irresponsible behaviour”.

Mrs Merkel appears to accept that her cautious line is falling on deaf ears. “The current situation enables us to allow many things again that were restricted for a few weeks,” she said.

431

The daily number of new infections reported in Germany yesterday, down from a high of 7,000 last month