BERLIN | WARSAW
In a run-off election with arch-conservative Friedrich Merz, North Rhine-Westphalian leader Armin Laschet won the race for CDU chair. Laschet – considered to be the moderate in the race and ran largely on a platform of continuing Merkel’s legacy – now has the best chance of becoming the country’s next chancellor after the Bundestag election set for 26 September.
In the meantime at the EU level, Laschet will have to deal with the headache of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, which is part of the European People’s Party (EPP). EPP chief Donald Tusk briefly welcomed delegates during Saturday’s CDU virtual congress and called on the CDU to take a clear position regarding the dispute with Fidesz. Read more.
While the vaccination of residential care centres is currently underway, Belgium is consolidating the locations for nationwide vaccination centres, which according to government information should be ready by March.
From Monday (18 January), the vaccination of hospital staff will start, while doctors and staff of other public health institutions will be vaccinated from February onwards, both through the hospitals itself.
The vaccination centres will become crucial in March when the collective vaccination of people over 65 and over 45 with underlying health conditions will start.
They’re meant to be followed by people with an “essential profession” in April and, if everything goes according to the government’s vaccination strategy, the rest of the population around summer.
WARSAW
Polish minister wants to forbid social media from banning users. Poland’s justice ministry is preparing a “groundbreaking” bill that would forbid the administrators of social media websites from deleting posts and banning users in what appears to be a reaction to the latest decision by prominent social networks – including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – to suspend the private accounts of outgoing US President Donald Trump. Read more.
///
BERLIN
Söder starts debate over mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers. Bavarian leader Markus Söder (CSU) kicked off a debate on Tuesday, after suggesting that Germany’s healthcare workers, particularly those in nursing homes, should be required to get immunised against the virus, the German daily
During a recent UN Security Council meeting, Germany exchanged heated words with Russia and China over humanitarian aid to Syria.
During the heated meeting on Wednesday, representatives of Moscow and Beijing questioned Germany’s suitability for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The German path to permanent membership “will be difficult,” said Chinese representative Yao Shaojun.
Earlier, the German government had accused Moscow and Beijing of being responsible for blocking UN aid supplies to Syria, with the German UN Ambassador, Christoph Heusgen, saying it was “very cynical” when the two states complained that aid supplies could not reach the war-torn country.
If you’re really pressed for time, here is the gist of this Brief: In case you’re thinking of driving home for holidays, think twice and, if you decide to go, brace for impact because, right now, confusion reigns supreme.
The December migration of foreign workers who drive from Western Europe to spend well-earned winter holidays at home has been a tradition for decades. Until this year.
Coronavirus seems to have put paid to this, like it did to so many other things from the ‘old normal’.
With few cheap flights insight, and the expensive ones sold a long time ago, driving remains an affordable, if tortuous, option.