德国新政府同步收紧病假规则与信息权，引发多方反弹
默茨联盟以提振经济与削减官僚主义为由，同时推进病假面诊义务和信息自由法限制，医疗界、公民团体与反对党均提出程序性质疑。
德国总理默茨领导的保守派-社民党联盟在夏季休会前集中推动两项改革：取消电话病假证明并强制首日面诊，以及将联邦信息自由法的申请资格限定为能证明“正当利益”的德国或欧盟自然人。前者旨在压低年均19.5天的病假天数，后者则被政府解释为减少官僚负担与保护关键基础设施敏感信息。两项措施均被纳入更广泛的预算整固与社会保障削减方案。
病假改革直接修改了疫情期间引入的远程问诊开假条做法。雇主今后可要求雇员从缺勤首日即出示当面开具的证明，而此前通常有三天宽限。政府援引IGES研究所数据称，病假天数较2018年的约13天显著上升，并认为这构成“竞争劣势”。但同一研究所指出，增长部分源于2023年全面启用的电子病假单系统改善了统计完整性。纽伦堡就业研究所的韦伯亦公开表示，现有科学研究未显示电话假条推高病假率，全面废除该做法并不明智。
信息自由法的修订则引发110个媒体倡导与非政府组织联名警告。公开信称，将申请权限制为能证明“正当利益”的个人，将实质上废除一项反腐败与权力滥用的核心工具，削弱事实报道与公民监督。政府方面则称现行法律过于复杂，改革将使其“更易懂、更透明”。绿党卫生政策发言人达门同时批评，在紧缩医疗系统之际将数百万患者推向诊所仅为了行政手续，构成矛盾。
议会程序上，绿党正试图拖延卫生改革表决。该党指出，政府在最后时刻提交了278页修正案，无法在预定投票日前完成严肃审查，并援引2023年联邦宪法法院应联盟党请求叫停供暖法表决的先例。卫生部长瓦尔肯的发言人则表示乐观，认为绿党的阻挠不会成功。两项改革若在休会前未能通过，将在夏季进一步发酵，而信息自由法修订尚未进入表决阶段，公民社会与媒体的反对声浪预计将持续施压。
| 拉丁美洲媒体 | −0.10 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| 大西洋／英语圈媒体 | −0.30 | critical |
| 撒哈拉以南非洲媒体 | −0.80 | critical |
| 欧洲大陆媒体 | −0.50 | critical |
The German government justifies the crackdown on sick leave as an economic efficiency measure, pointing the finger at workers who abuse the system.
The narrative relies on statistical data (19.5 days of absence) to create a sense of urgency and legitimize the reform as a response to an objective problem.
It does not mention possible causes of the rise in absences, such as work stress or health conditions, nor the criticism of the freedom of information restriction.
The Merz government launches an offensive against shirkers, imposing a sick note from day one to expose abuses.
It uses warlike language ('war on workers') to dramatize the reform and present it as a necessary battle against dishonesty.
It does not report the criticism from transparency organizations nor the context of the freedom of information reform.
Civil society organizations denounce the German government's attempt to limit access to information, calling it an attack on democracy.
The petition with 110 signatures and the language of 'anger' create a moral mobilization against the reform.
It does not discuss the sick leave reform nor the economic justifications put forward by the government.
The Merz government shows a 'strange distrust' towards citizens, restricting rights and blaming workers for the crisis.
The criticism appeals to democratic values and the social contract, contrasting the government's attitude with an ideal of transparency and trust.
It does not delve into the details of the health reform nor the underlying economic reasons, focusing on political criticism.