Germany's Ruling SPD Pushes COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Bill

Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) is reportedly pushing for a law mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, according to major foreign media on the 11th (local time).

On the same day, SPD parliamentary leader Rolf M?tzenich stated that a vote on the mandatory vaccination bill would be held in March.

The German parliament passed a law last December mandating vaccinations for certain professions. However, with signs of a fourth wave of COVID-19 emerging and Germany's vaccination rate lower compared to other European countries, M?tzenich appears to have judged that stronger enforcement of vaccination is necessary.

On that day, Germany recorded 45,690 new COVID-19 cases, a 50% increase compared to a week earlier. Currently, about 72% of the German population has completed the second dose of the vaccine, and 43.5% have received the third dose.

The opposition parties, the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union, also expressed willingness to discuss mandatory vaccination regardless of the risk level posed by the Omicron variant.

Parliamentary leader M?tzenich said that after discussions in parliament by the end of January, the SPD would prepare a bill to expand mandatory vaccination. He stated, "By March, federal parliament members will be able to vote on the mandatory vaccination bill," and added, "I am confident that the SPD will achieve a majority in favor."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz supports expanding mandatory vaccination and is reportedly hoping for its implementation by the end of February.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.