In February 2026, the debate surrounding the reappraisal of pandemic measures reached a new, highly explosive stage. While the Federal Ministry of Health under Nina Warken (CDU) continues to deny any form of repression, BSW chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht is emphatically demanding a nationwide COVID Amnesty Law. This demand is bolstered by an unprecedented diplomatic event: a “fire letter” (Brandbrief) from US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who accuses Germany of persecuting over 1,000 doctors.
The Demand: Rectifying Injustice
For Sahra Wagenknecht, the balance sheet of the COVID years remains unfinished even in 2026. In her current statement, she clarifies that reconciliation is only possible through genuine reappraisal and the termination of ongoing proceedings.
- Termination of all proceedings: Wagenknecht demands that all criminal and fine proceedings against citizens and medical professionals who violated “arbitrary COVID regulations” be dropped immediately.
- Restitution: Those already convicted should be rehabilitated and compensated. This particularly concerns doctors who lost their livelihoods for issuing mask or vaccine exemptions.
- End to “Encroachment”: The BSW views the persistent judicial severity as a sign of an encroaching state that seeks to discipline critics even years later.
The “Warken Case”: Disinformation by the Ministry of Health?
The demand for amnesty gains additional urgency following recent statements by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU). In January 2026, Warken publicly claimed that there were “at no time sanctions” for doctors who chose not to offer vaccinations.
Critics accuse the Minister of deliberate disinformation. Cases such as that of the Saxon doctor Bianca Witzschel, who was imprisoned again despite these claims, or the convictions of Dr. Heinrich Habig and Dr. Ronald Weikl, prove the opposite. The BSW parliamentary group in the Saxon state parliament described Warken’s statements as “demonstrably false” and sees them as an attempt to conceal the extent of state repression.
International Support from RFK Jr.
The fact that this topic is dominating the headlines in 2026 is also due to the new dynamics from the USA. In his letter to Warken, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended patient autonomy and called the criminalization of German doctors a “scandal.”
- Diplomatic Pressure: The USA is demanding transparency regarding the proceedings against medical professionals.
- Credibility Crisis: When international partners point out the persecution of opposition figures and doctors in Germany, the narrative of a “fortified democracy” (wehrhafte Demokratie) begins to crumble.
Why an Amnesty Law is Necessary Now
Wagenknecht argues that an amnesty law is the only way to restore social peace.
- Scientific Rehabilitation: Many measures whose criticism previously led to persecution (e.g., doubts about the effectiveness of masks for children or the protection of others through vaccination) are now scientifically backed by the RKI Files.
- Relieving the Judiciary: Thousands of proceedings are clogging the courts and tying up resources needed to combat actual crime.
- Protection of Medical Conscience: The freedom of medical decision-making must once again stand above political directives.
Comparison: Official Narrative vs. BSW Demand
| Area | Position of Nina Warken (CDU) | Demand of Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) |
| Ongoing Trials | “Rule-of-law processing of fraud.” | “Stop politically motivated criminalization.” |
| Convicted Doctors | “Have violated laws.” | “Immediate amnesty and rehabilitation.” |
| Sanctions | “Factually did not exist.” | “Harsh reality of prison and professional bans.” |
| Objective | Preserving state authority. | Restoring legal peace. |
Conclusion: A Test for the Rule of Law
The demand for a COVID amnesty in February 2026 is more than just party politics; it is a test of the German rule of law’s ability to learn. While the Ministry of Health under Nina Warken relies on disinformation, Sahra Wagenknecht’s initiative marks the path back to a society where criticism is not answered with criminal law.