A demonstration by opponents of anti-Covid restrictions who noisily gathered in Germany in front of the home of a regional elected official with torches and whistles sparked indignation from the political class on Saturday.

About thirty people, according to the police, were present Friday evening during this "unauthorized gathering" in front of the house of the Minister of Health of the Land of Saxony, in the town of Grimma (east).

On a video posted on social networks, we see them in particular brandishing torches and shouting "Peace, freedom, no dictatorship" in the sound of whistles and drums.

Outrageous political reactions

"The torchlight protests in front of my house are disgusting and indecent," denounced the elected official of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Petra Köpping.

The co-leader of the SPD Norbert Walter-Borjans described the action as "fascist", considering that it had "nothing to do with democratic expression".

"This torchlight parade is an organized intimidation of a state representative," condemned outgoing Interior Minister Horst Seehofer.

The operation recalls the "darkest chapters in our German history," lamented the conservative official (CDU) in an interview with the weekly Bild am Sonntag.

Hardened health restrictions

A strong movement opposed to health restrictions has been mobilized in Germany since the start of the pandemic.

It is particularly present in Saxony (ex-GDR), one of the regions most affected by the current increase in contamination and which has a vaccination rate of 61%, against 68.9% nationally.

Germany this week decided to tighten restrictions on unvaccinated people now deprived of access to most public places, restaurants and non-essential shops.

The new government led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who is due to take office next Wednesday, plans to submit compulsory vaccination to the vote of deputies.

This measure, which German officials have long rejected, is now supported by around two thirds of Germans but it risks hurting a large part of the population, especially in the former GDR.

Nobody can exclude that, among the opponents of vaccination, "individuals or groups are radicalized and, in the worst case, commit acts of violence", warned in the same interview the Minister of the Interior .

World

Coronavirus: Omicron variant identified in 38 countries, IMF worried about growth

Society

Coronavirus: Where will the French be able to travel at Christmas?

  • World

  • Vaccine

  • Health pass

  • Coronavirus

  • Covid 19

  • Germany

  • 0 comment

  • 0 share

    • Share on Messenger

    • Share on Facebook

    • Share on twitter

    • Share on Flipboard

    • Share on Pinterest

    • Share on Linkedin

    • Send by Mail

  • To safeguard

  • A fault ?

  • To print