Lauterbach defends against Kubicki attack
Upon reviewing the RKI protocols, FDP deputy Kubicki accuses the Federal Ministry of Health of exerting pressure on the Robert Koch Institute during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Minister Lauterbach does not let the allegations rest. Virologist Streeck also weighs in.
The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) leaves uncommented demands by FDP deputy Wolfgang Kubicki for "personal consequences" for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in connection with the publication of the so-called "Corona-Files" of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). "The BMG does not comment on the statements by Mr. Kubicki," it said upon request.
The ministry also cited Lauterbach generally "on the topic of decision-making bases and decision-making authority" with the words: "There is nothing to hide in the RKI protocols. Therefore, I have ordered the publication of the protocols. The RKI has given recommendations during the pandemic. However, the political responsibility lies with the ministry. Despite the overall cautious strategy, more than 50,000 people still died from COVID-19 in Germany alone in 2022. Therefore, the measures were more than justified."
After the publication of unredacted documents about the meetings of the Corona crisis staff at the RKI by a journalist, Bundestag deputy president Kubicki demanded personal consequences from Lauterbach. He accuses the health minister of having an "irresponsible attitude towards the truth" and refers, among other things, to a statement by Lauterbach from March, according to which the RKI had worked independently of political instructions. In Kubicki's view, however, the documents prove political influence. The RKI had artificially kept the public pandemic pressure high at the insistence of the BMG, wrote the FDP politician.
RKI wants to publish protocols at a later date
The protocols of the crisis staff have not yet been released by the RKI itself. A group around a journalist, who counts among the critics of the federal government's corona policy, had reportedly received the documents from a source at the institute, uploaded them to the internet in July, and also presented them at a press conference.
The RKI stated that it had "neither checked nor verified the data sets." The institute wants to publish the protocols itself at a time not yet specified, according to statements by Lauterbach. The papers show what the crisis staff discussed at its regular meetings during the corona period: current infection numbers, international situation, vaccinations, tests, studies, or containment measures.
Kubicki quotes parts of the documents published on the internet, which he believes prove that influence was exerted on the RKI. He cites an entry dated 9 February 2022, which under the point "Current risk assessment" states: "The time of publication is dependent on the approval of the BMG, not before the MPK on 16.02.2022. A downgrade beforehand might be interpreted as a de-escalation signal, therefore not politically desired."
Furthermore, an entry from 25 February 2022 is cited: "Reduction of risk from very high to high was rejected by the BMG" and one from 20 April 2022: "In view of the BMG, the downgrade should initially be to high and not moderate for strategic reasons."
Dr. Hendrik Streeck, a virologist from Bonn who plans to run for the CDU in the 2025 federal election, demanded in Bild newspaper that Karl Lauterbach should extensively address the allegations against him arising from the protocols. Kubicki accused his coalition partner of suppressing scientific findings to achieve political goals. "Such an accusation cannot be left unaddressed if Karl Lauterbach wants to remain Health Minister."
Kubicki also called for a parliamentary investigation into the Corona pandemic. Jens Spahn, Lauterbach's predecessor in office, also commented on this topic in the ARD's "Interview of the Week". We must discuss what went wrong and look forward to what we can learn from it, the CDU politician said, and called for the establishment of a corresponding committee of inquiry in the Bundestag. "At the moment, I have the impression that some people don't want to talk about it at all, as if everything was somehow okay, and others - especially those who have always been critical - want to stage some kind of people's court."
The Federal Ministry of Health does not comment on the allegations made by FDP deputy Kubicki, stating, "The following is added: The BMG does not comment on the statements by Mr. Kubicki."
Dr. Hendrik Streeck, a virologist and CDU politician, calls for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach to address the allegations against him arising from the protocols, stating, "The following is added: Streeck also weighs in, demanding that Lauterbach extensively address the allegations."
