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Paternalism by Politics! What the Released Emails of the “Mandatory Vaccination Working Group” Reveal About Our Understanding of DemocracyIt is a political disgrace that key information about government actions—especially in matters concerning fundamental rights and bodily autonomy—must first be fought for in court. 
It is a political disgrace that key information about government actions – especially in matters concerning fundamental rights and bodily autonomy – has to be fought for in court. Anyone who considers themselves a “representative of the people” should, as a matter of course, disclose how decisions are prepared that directly affect millions of citizens. (Based on: Internal Emails of the “Mandatory Vaccination Working Group” – Released by Court Order by Aya Velázquez) All legal and court costs to obtain the documents of the “Mandatory Vaccination Working Group” were privately covered by Aya Velázquez. She sincerely thanks everyone for their support! Bank transfer: Aya Velázquez, DE91 4306 0967 1115 8962 01 PayPal: aya.velazquez@protonmail.com Bitcoin: bc1qwmdx6cn5ska80l8gwv7ywx3tz2h5v2xe4acpas That journalists and citizens must file lawsuits under the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to internal documents says much about how parts of the political elite view the sovereign: distrustfully, paternalistically, sometimes even condescendingly. Instead of transparency and accountability, there is all too often a reflex to avoid scrutiny – as if public oversight were a threat rather than the foundation of democracy. Released by Court Order: The Internal Emails of the “Mandatory Vaccination Working Group”Journalist Aya Velázquez successfully won the release of internal documents of the so-called Mandatory Vaccination Working Group (AG Impfpflicht) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) before the Administrative Court of Berlin. Only after legal pressure were 987 pages of emails and attachments released, covering the period from December 13, 2021, to April 5, 2022—precisely the months when the federal government and members of parliament were debating a general vaccination mandate.Although meeting minutes are missing, the email correspondence vividly shows how the preparation for the mandate took place in the machinery of administration—from inter-ministerial coordination and legal details to internal doubts that were rarely, if ever, discussed publicly. A Glimpse into the Machinery of Power: Who Decided What?The lead agency was the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), specifically Subdivision 61 “Health Security,” under Heiko Rottmann-Großner. Other participants included the RKI, the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), the Interior and Justice Ministries, the Foreign Office, and the Bundestag’s Scientific Service.The emails show that the process was highly politically coordinated—scientific objections, such as those questioning the effectiveness or rationale of a general vaccination mandate in light of the Omicron variant, were subordinated to political objectives. While the RKI crisis team internally expressed doubts that a mandate would significantly improve the infection situation, a clear recommendation in favor of such a mandate continued to be presented publicly. Legal, Technical, and Ethical ConflictsThe emails reveal extensive internal debates on questions that barely reached the public:– How should a vaccination mandate be enforced? Through fines, administrative enforcement, possibly even coercive measures? Officially, imprisonment was ruled out—but unofficially, it was at least considered in procedural discussions. – Who should be included? Tourists, cross-border commuters, and people without permanent residence appeared in the deliberations. – How should compliance be monitored? A vaccination register was outlined as a “medium-term” solution to identify violations. – Data protection concerns were raised repeatedly—but only late in the process, when the political timeline was already set. Particularly striking: the principle of proportionality, which should be central in such a profound infringement of fundamental rights, was mentioned but hardly examined in depth. There was neither a thorough assessment of whether milder measures were available nor solid evidence that the mandate would be effective. The Inner Logic of PowerWhat the documents reveal is less a secret than a system: a political operation that views transparency as a disturbance in times of crisis. Decisions are coordinated in small circles, doubts are moderated away, and criticism is treated as a risk to political messaging.Yet the emails show that there were indeed critical voices within the administration—people who questioned whether the mandate was feasible, legally defensible, or medically justified. But these objections disappeared from the papers as they moved up the chain of command. Democracy Test: FailedIn the end, the vaccination mandate failed in parliament—and, in hindsight, that may be a blessing for the rule of law. Because if it had been adopted based on the now-known internal processes, it would have rested on a scientifically, legally, and morally fragile foundation.The released emails of the Mandatory Vaccination Working Group are more than a historical record. They are a lesson in how dangerous opacity becomes in crisis mode—and how essential independent journalism remains when it refuses to be silenced. ConclusionTransparency is not a burdensome obligation but the cornerstone of democratic legitimacy. Those who wield political power must be willing to account for the foundations of their decisions—especially when freedom, health, and bodily autonomy are at stake.The fact that citizens must enforce such insight through court action is an alarm signal. It shows: The people are being monitored—not the power—and the latter has grown all too comfortable with the lack of scrutiny. (Based on: Internal Emails of the “Mandatory Vaccination Working Group” – Released by Court Order by Aya Velázquez) Author: AI-Translation - АИИ | |
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