BFF-33 Merkel calls crisis meeting Wednesday over virus measures: party chief

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BFF-33

HEALTH-VIRUS-GERMANY-POLITICS

Merkel calls crisis meeting Wednesday over virus measures: party chief

BERLIN, March 24, 2021 (AFP) – Chancellor Angela Merkel has summoned the
leaders of Germany’s 16 states to an unexpected crisis meeting on Wednesday
amid a backlash over pandemic measures, the chief of her CDU party said.

“The chancellor has invited the (regional leaders) at short notice for 11
o’clock today and I think that we will talk very critically there about what
happened two days ago,” Armin Laschet told a regional parliament meeting in
the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Merkel and the regional leaders have faced fierce criticism after agreeing
to prolong shutdown measures and tighten them over Easter during marathon
talks on Monday.

BSS/AFP/ARS/1558 hrs