Saxony's Minister of Health Petra Köpping (SPD) sharply condemned the torch demonstration in front of her private house.
Objective criticism of the Corona measures was completely legitimate, she told the German Press Agency on Saturday.
“I'm always ready to talk.
But torch protests in front of my house are disgusting and indecent. "
According to the police, about 30 people gathered in front of the house in Grimma on Friday evening.
When the officers arrived, the people had fled in several vehicles.
Police stopped 15 cars and established the identities of 25 people.
Politicians sharply condemned the protest as attempted intimidation and crossing of borders and expressed solidarity with the minister.
Walter-Borjans: Fascistoid in style and appearance
The police have reported the violation of the Assembly Act and are investigating violations of the Corona Ordinance.
According to the regulation, only fixed meetings with a maximum of ten participants are currently allowed in Saxony.
The state has been particularly hard hit by the corona pandemic.
SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans wrote on Twitter on Saturday: “What happened yesterday in front of Petra Köpping's house has nothing to do with worry and a desire for freedom. That is fascistoid in style and appearance. ”The SPD co-chair Saskia Esken assured Köpping“ fullest solidarity ”. "Even if the few Hansel try to spread fear and horror: the rational and willing to take responsibility are the great majority, and they are by your side," tweeted Esken.
SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil said on Saturday at a party conference in Berlin that the limits of freedom of expression had been exceeded. It could not be that politicians were threatened and that “right-wing conspirators and oaths” gathered with torches in front of the house of a minister. "That needs an answer with the full rigor of the rule of law, it needs a contradiction of the decent in this country", emphasized Klingbeil. He assured Köpping: "We are all at your side."
Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) said in memory of the NSDAP's fighting organization: “These are methods that the SA invented.” Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) told “Bild am Sonntag”: “This torchlight parade is organized intimidation a state representative.
That reminds me of the darkest chapters in our German history. "
Saxony wants to increase protective measures
Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) wrote on Twitter: “We oppose all forces that want to intimidate.” What happened to Köpping affects all of Saxony.
His government spokesman Ralph Schreiber said: "As a consequence, the protective measures for public officials and their families will be further increased."
Köpping himself condemned the protest in front of her house as "disgusting and indecent".
She knows that these are not protests, but organized attempts to intimidate right-wing extremists and conspiracy believers, which unfortunately happen far too often - in front of doctors' offices, at vaccination centers and hospitals, against mayors and other committed people.
Such attempts at intimidation often ended in violence.
That is dangerous for each individual and for cohesion.
"I thank you for the many supportive letters and calls and I will not be intimidated by the constant rabble and attacks," said Köpping.
The currently necessary fight against the corona pandemic is about human lives.