>The simplest explanation is that politicians use situation to attack their opponents<
You’re right about that. However right-wingers in Israel who hate government involvement, were very critical of Bibi’s Covid strategy, until the amazing vaccine rollout, after which all was forgiven. In fact if not for the vaccines Bibi would be packing his bags.
So I do think that this is a right-versas-left thing but governments all over lost control of the virus and freaked out, ignoring their voters and ideology.