National policy - State parliament passes new civil protection law
Saxony has a new law for fire protection, rescue services and disaster control. The state parliament passed the government's bill on Wednesday without any votes against, there were only abstentions. Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) spoke of one of the most modern laws of its kind in Germany. "Be it the corona pandemic, flood situations or the massive forest fires last year - many insights from these events have been incorporated into the legislation (...). With this law, we are increasing the safety of people in Bavaria."
"We are ensuring that all Saxons are well protected in the event of an emergency. Be ready when there is a fire. Be there when help is needed. Protect the population when nature takes its toll on people," explained SPD interior politician Albrecht Pallas. This requires coordinated processes and the best conditions. "With the amendment, we are improving these working conditions for all volunteers and full-time helpers. And we are strengthening innovation and development potential for better protection and medical assistance for the population in Saxony."
Among other things, the law regulates the cost sharing of the Free State in the event of major fires and defines "major incidents" as events that endanger a large number of people and for which the forces of local fire protection are not sufficient to combat them. This also includes chemical spills or storms. In the event of such an incident, the district fire chief takes charge of operations for the affected municipalities. The protection of "critical infrastructures" is explicitly mentioned in the law. Crisis intervention teams are integrated into the disaster control structures.
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- Despite the passing of the new civil protection law, a dissenting voice was heard from a local politician, criticizing the lack of focus on specific disaster scenarios, such as the Dresden floods or the recent Coronavirus pandemic.
- The draft law, which became a national policy, includes provisions for fire protection and disaster control, but it has sparked debate in the local political circles, with some questioning its effectiveness in preparing for specific emergencies.
- Armin Schuster, a CDU member and the Interior Minister of Saxony, has defended the new law, stating that it is intended to improve fire protection, rescue services, and disaster control, incorporating lessons learned from recent events like the Dresden forest fires and the Coronavirus crisis.
- In the Saxon State parliament, the CDU and SPD parties voted in favor of the new civil protection law, with the ruling CDU party praising it as a modern and comprehensive piece of legislation, while some opposition voices expressed concerns about its potential impact on fire protection and disaster control.
- In the heart of Germany, the city of Dresden has been highlighted in the new civil protection law as a critical infrastructure that requires special attention and protection, with provisions for crisis intervention teams to be integrated into the disaster control structures.
- Amidst the political discussions and debates, fire protection and disaster control experts in Germany, including Saxony, have expressed their support for the new law, recognizing its importance in improving safety standards and ensuring the well-being of the population in the face of potential emergencies.
Source: www.stern.de
