[ad_1]
In Leipzig, over the weekend, a demonstration against the crown measures with tens of thousands of people spun out of control. After the meeting broke up prematurely, riots broke out, journalists and officials were attacked and massive property damage occurred. Many politicians are now calling for the facts to be addressed. Now a dispute is emerging between representatives of the SPD and the CDU over the assessment of the situation.
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak has vigorously rejected SPD leader Saskia Esken’s criticism of the police operation in demonstrating “lateral thinking” from those who reject the masks as irrelevant. “He has no idea about the police situation there,” Ziemiak criticized after online inquiries with the party’s headquarters in Berlin.
There have been similar statements from Esken to the police on several occasions. “You should only express yourself when you know all the facts and not just run into the police just because you think you will get some retweets on Twitter.”
He wanted Esken and the SPD to have as much approval as the Saxon police, Ziemiak added. “Then the SPD would not have to worry at all about the next federal election campaign.”
Esken tweeted on Saturday: “Overall, the police forces were completely overwhelmed with the situation in # le0711 today. Massive rule violations such as the mask requirement were barely punished. Press representatives were left defenseless against attacks by extremists. right “.
Meanwhile, SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil also interfered in the debate and responded to criticism from his CDU colleague.
“I cannot imagine that Paul Ziemiak and the CDU would really approve of this display of self-proclaimed side thinkers, Holocaust deniers and professed rightists just because they want to protect their own prime minister and minister of the interior in Saxony,” he told SPIEGEL.
Everyone has the right to criticize, take to the streets and demonstrate, Klingbeil said. This right must also apply in the pandemic. This also means that the rules are being followed. “And if that is not fulfilled, when journalists are attacked and slogans from the right are shouted, then it is up to the state to take tough measures.” That did not happen in Leipzig. That is why Saxon Interior Minister Wöller must now be held accountable, Klingbeil continued.
The city of Leipzig really wanted to put the demonstration of “lateral thinking” on the outskirts to keep the risk of infection low. The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony (OVG) had allowed the event on Saturday, but subject to conditions in the city center. In the end, at least 20,000 people demonstrated against the crown’s restrictions, most of them without masks, according to police. At night, the crowd forced a walk through the symbolic Leipziger Ring, although an elevator was expressly prohibited.
