German minister criticises Von der Leyen over Covid vaccines 'disgrace'

Junior partner in Merkel-led coalition aims to capitalise on frustration over slow vaccine deployment

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Germany's finance minister has attacked the European commission's Covid vaccine strategy as really shit", Bild has reported, as Angela Merkel's centre-left coalition partners seek to exploit anger over the issue before federal elections.

Olaf Scholz, who is also the vice-chancellor, reportedly criticised the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, by name during a cabinet meeting on Monday, saying Berlin could not let this shit repeat itself" and that the vaccine debacle was a disgrace".