The German parliament’s speaker, Julia Klöckner (CDU), has urged a thorough and transparent examination of the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as the parliamentary inquiry committee tasked with investigating the crisis formally convenes.
Speaking in Berlin on Monday, Klöckner emphasized the need for a “very thorough, transparent and above all, self-critical” investigation. She described the committee’s formation as “urgently necessary” and deemed it an “important and overdue” step.
Klöckner underscored the importance of securing knowledge gained during the pandemic, stating that it is not inconceivable that future pandemics may occur. Consequently, she called for documenting and making readily accessible the accumulated wisdom and lessons learned throughout the COVID-19 period.
Beyond knowledge preservation, the speaker suggested that the inquiry represents an opportunity for societal reconciliation. She acknowledged that divergent opinions on pandemic-related measures caused divisions within families and expressed hope that this process can also contribute to regaining trust in democratic institutions.
