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German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday criticized “shameful images” of “anti-mask” protesters who tried to force their way into the Reichstag building, where Parliament works, on Saturday. An “abuse of the right to demonstrate” was said.
“This weekend we had an example of how freedom of expression can be abused,” said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for the executive, speaking “on behalf of the government and the chancellor.” Although I emphasize that the “right to peaceful demonstration is undoubtedly a very precious achievement, even in times of pandemic.”
On Saturday, hours after a demonstration in Berlin dispersed against restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, which brought together some 20,000 people, some 200 far-right militants who had participated in the protest tried to force entry into the building . the Reichstag where Parliament works. They were detained by the police, who detained several people.
“The result is shameful, unacceptable images” of the attempt by “undemocratic” to enter Parliament, adds Seibert, who thanked “the three policemen who defended the entrance” of the building.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a statement released Saturday on Instagram, which reads: “Reich flags and far-right obscenities in the Bundestag [Parlamento] The Germans are an unbearable attack on the heart of our democracy ”.
“We will never accept it,” Steinmeier said, stating: “If someone is angry with the measures or questions it, they can do it, even in public and at demonstrations. My understanding ends when protesters mix with enemies of democracy and political agitators. “
The Reichstag has an important symbol in Germany. The building was burned down in 1933, seen as being carried out or at least promoted by the newly formed Nazi government, which blamed an opponent for the fire and used it to enact emergency powers, an essential step in establishing Nazi dictatorship.
In another sign of the deterioration of the political climate in Germany regarding the use of a mask, Health Minister Jens Spahn was insulted by dozens of people in Bergisch-Gladbach, who still tried to spit on him, showing a video shared on networks. Social.
This Monday, Germany counted 610 new infections from the coronavirus and three more deaths from covid-19, in the last 24 hours. a number below the approximately 1,500 new cases per day recorded during the past week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 242,381 coronavirus infections have been identified, of which 216,200 have been recovered, and a total of 9298 deaths from covid-19.
Despite these strong protests, according to a recent survey by public television ZDF, 77% of those surveyed not only defend the covid-19 containment measures, but would like to see them applied more strongly.
