Coronavirus: Alternative for Germany, Saxony: Parliamentary inquiry committee in the Landtag

On Thursday, the Saxon state parliament decided to set up a corona inquiry committee. All parliamentary groups voted in favor of the application of the left-wing parliamentary group.

This is intended to investigate the state government's actions during the Corona crisis. Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) spoke out against the committee. "Experts, scientists and the state government have always worked hand in hand during the crisis," he said.

The Left Party parliamentary group had applied for the committee of inquiry because it accused the state government of mistakes in dealing with the pandemic. Among other things, the left criticizes the fact that there was no compulsory nationwide mask requirement in Saxony until shortly before the federal government made it compulsory. In addition, there should have been a lack of protective equipment in hospitals and nursing homes.

Sahra Wagenknecht: There is a "massive loss of trust"

Sahra Wagenknecht, parliamentary group leader of the Left in the Bundestag, said on Thursday of the decision of the Saxon state parliament: "The citizens of Saxony have a right to know what went wrong in the corona crisis and who is responsible for it." The Left politician criticized the fact that Prime Minister Kretschmer had spoken out against the committee of inquiry. "It is an affront to the citizens of Saxony when the Prime Minister refuses to answer questions about the mistakes of his government," said Wagenknecht.

The Social Democrats (SPD) in Saxony also support the committee of inquiry. "We need a comprehensive clarification of the mistakes that were made in the corona crisis," said SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Panter. He added: "In particular, it is important to know why there was no nationwide compulsory mask requirement in Saxony for so long."

The AfD faction in the Saxon state parliament voted against the application for a committee of inquiry. The AfD parliamentary group leader, Jörg Urban, said: "We do not see the need for a committee of inquiry. The state government has done a good job in the corona crisis."

The corona inquiry committee is expected to begin its work in the autumn. The committee will have 13 members, three of whom will come from the CDU parliamentary group, two from the SPD parliamentary group, two from the Left parliamentary group, two from the AfD parliamentary group, two from the Green parliamentary group and two from the FDP parliamentary group.