The images can make you doubt your mind. Thousands demonstrate side by side against Corona restrictions. A commentary by Christian Deutschländer, head of politics at Munich's Merkur.
- Thousands protested Saturday in Munich and Nuremberg against the coercive measures ordered because of the Corona crisis
- In Munich, a mask requirement prescribed by Prime Minister Söder has applied since April 27.
- Christian Deutschländer, head of politics at Munich's Merkur, comments on the situation.
- Here is our Corona Virus Reporting Guide * and our “Corona News” * on Facebook. The current Corona case numbers for Germany can be found here as a map *.
There are images that make the mind doubt: 3000 without a distance at Munich's Marienplatz, thousands demonstrate closely in other cities, people with understandable concerns walk side by side with crazy conspiracy theorists, right-wing and left-wing radicals. The sense of protection against infection - young and healthy protect with caution old, sick and high-risk patients - is publicly perverted. Such pictures are a slap in the face of the tirelessly working medical staff in the clinics, but also of everyday people who have waived for weeks.
Corona crisis: Police had to make difficult balances at demonstration
The police, especially in Munich, and not in disrepute with Hätschel tactics, had to make a difficult decision on Saturday, which they cannot be envied for. A liberal democracy must extend the limits of the right to demonstrate very broadly. The right to freedom of expression is not limited to wise or welcome content. The dangerous thing about the demos, however, in addition to the extreme risk of infection, is the blending of radical and simply stupid conspiracy theories with the legitimate criticism that the corona measures were too drastic. One does not have to share the latter opinion either, but it must have space in our society, especially given the existential needs in which many people slip through no fault of their own.
So fundamental rights clash here, as is always the case in this crisis. The protest will increase because politics polarizes more in this interim recovery phase; so far a majority has agreed, and for some the easing is even going too far. Approval practice and operational tactics must be in place for the next weekend to enable protests to also prevent uncomfortable but irresponsible virus festivals.
Also read: Giant chaos around Corona emergency brakes: Bavarian city also breaks limit value - "row test" the reason?
* Merkur.de and tz.de are parts of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network.
