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Once again, protests against Corona’s requirements are planned, and there is growing concern in politics that demos can be taken over by extremists. CSU chief Söder cautions that mistakes like “Pegida” should not be repeated.
Up to 5,000 people can gather in Stuttgart on Saturday to protest Corona’s move, more than elsewhere, but considerably less than the organizer wants. The city limited the number of participants allowed to “balance infection protection and freedom of assembly,” as announced. The rally was originally announced for half a million participants.
Numerous people are expected to participate again in the controversial protests in other German cities on Saturday: according to police, a demonstration with 1,000 participants has been registered at Theresienwiese in Munich. Numerous protests will also take place in the city center of Berlin, however a maximum of 50 people can gather there for each event. Demonstrations are also planned in Lower Saxony and Bremen.
Politicians are increasingly concerned that the theoretically, politically extreme and esoteric conspiracy positions are repeatedly represented in the demonstrations. “The violent protests of the past few days are troubling,” said SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans of the “Passauer Neue Presse.” Only a small minority is on the move, but these are not everyday concerns. “Actors perceive the opportunity to weaken democracy and destabilize society.”
Söder: Don’t repeat mistakes like “Pegida”
CSU leader Markus Söder called on citizens to clearly distance themselves from conspiracy theorists and extremists during the protests. Of course it was fine if there was criticism and of course the measures had to be explained, he said. However, the AfD and other right-wing groups tried to capture understandable questions from citizens. Therefore, politicians must clearly position themselves against conspiracy theorists. “We can’t make the same mistake we made at Pegida in the beginning.”
In the 2015 refugee crisis, it was said that more understanding was needed, Söder said. Then it turned out who the spokesmen were. Even today, people with understandable questions should not allow themselves to be abused by controlled protests with their hate speech. The signs with the inscription “Merkel has to go” bear the clear handwriting of AfD and other legal groups.
New extreme right movements?
Schleswig-Holstein Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack made a similar statement. The CDU politician fears that the protests may lead to further right-wing extremist efforts. According to her, representatives of the significantly involved protest movement “Resistance 2020” use “open Nazi vocabulary” according to initial evaluations. There is a danger that “a mix of ethnic, nationalist and racist ideas will form,” he said.
Among other things, members of the right-wing extremist NPD had already organized demonstrations in Neumünster. In Schleswig-Holstein, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is watching developments as a whole with great attention. “There are now clear signs that a new right-wing extremist effort could emerge.”
Meanwhile, the Campaign platform in Verden, near Bremen, warned against participating in so-called “hygiene demonstrations”. According to the epd news agency, board member Felix Kolb sent an email corresponding to some 2.3 million supporters of the civil movement. Although Campact itself criticizes the decisions made by politics and the government and organizes large-scale protests, the association sees great danger in the current protests, he explained.
Fine of 300 euros for breach of the obligation to wear a mask
Before the demonstration, the Stuttgart health authority also reminded participants that minimum distances should be observed and that masks should be worn on arrival and departure by public transport. Violations of the mask requirement must be punished with a fine of 300 euros. 500 folders with nose and mouth protection should be placed.
According to the AFP news agency, the organizer filed an application with the Stuttgart administrative court against two of the conditions: on the one hand, he opposed the limitation on the number of participants and, on the other hand, against the mask requirement of the binder. The latter is not necessary if the minimum distance is observed.
