(Adds details, COVID-19 numbers, quote)

Joseph Nasr and Zuzanna Skzymanska

BERLIN (Reuters] – Germany should mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all adult citizens, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday to parliament, ignoring the heckling by opposition lawmakers that accused him of inciting social divisions.

Scholz’s first session as chancellor in parliament was on the same day Germany announced a record number of coronavirus infection cases, at 80,430.

Leader credited the new measures taken by his government to curb public life and increase booster doses in preparation for an even more severe onslaught. Our World in Data shows that Germany’s per capita cases are a third lower than that of other European Union countries.

Scholz explained that although infections are expected to increase, more precautions will be needed. He suggested mandatory vaccination. It was long taboo to do so in Germany. However, it’s gaining popularity as the unvaccinated share remains low in many countries of western Europe.

His comments were about a topic that is causing passionate reactions around the globe, as many authorities and corporations insist on immunization.

“FREEDOM” PROTEST

The Q&A session was interrupted at the start when lawmakers from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) held up signs reading “freedom instead of division.”

The December law passed by Parliament made coronavirus vaccinations mandatory for certain professions beginning in March.

Rolf Muetzenich (leader of Scholz’s Social Democrats) said Tuesday that the SPD would prepare a revised mandate proposal for vaccines after a parliamentary discussion at the beginning of January.

He stated that parliament would vote on the bill in March.

Scholz also stated that climate change will be the main focus of Germany’s presidency of Group of Seven (G7) in this year’s election. His first address to the New Year stated that Germany wanted to make the G7 a pioneering club in efforts to create green growth and a more just world.