Corona demos in Germany: Merkel apparently suspects Putin's Russia as the instigator of the protests

Corona demos in Germany: Thousands demonstrate against conditions in Berlin, Dortmund, Munich and Stuttgart. FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich was present in Gera.

• The conditions against the coronavirus * continue to change everyday life very much.
• People across Germany are demonstrating against the measures *.
• There was criticism of Thuringia's ex-Prime Minister Thomas Kemmerich (FDP) .
• Here you will find the basic facts about the coronavirus *. You can also find current case numbers in Germany here as a map *. The following recommendations for corona protective measures * are currently available. The most important thing about this topic is on our Facebook page Corona News. Become a fan now. 

Demonstrations and violence: “Reporters Without Borders” fear fewer reports of protests

Update of May 12, 4:31 p.m .: After several attacks against journalists, the Reporters Without Borders association fears that reporting on demonstrations in Germany could decline . "We fear that the latest attacks will unsettle media professionals and, in case of doubt, will report less of rallies," said Managing Director Christian Mihr on Tuesday. He also emphasized: "Anyone who attacks journalists is attacking the fundamental right to freedom of the press." Especially in times of a pandemic, media professionals should be able to report "freely and without fear of violence".

In the past few weeks, there had been several attacks on reporter teams in the vicinity of demonstrations. At the weekend there was an attack on a WDR team in Dortmund during a demo against corona restrictions. Days earlier, a man in Berlin attacked a camera team at the ARD capital's studio. A ZDF camera team was attacked in Berlin on May 1.

Corona demos in Germany: Merkel apparently suspects Putin's apparatus as the instigator of the protests

Update from May 12, 1:33 pm : Since the Corona crisis, there has been a lot of “disinformation”. The increasing prevalence of conspiracy theories * around the pandemic is meanwhile even calling on domestic politicians from the federal and state governments - they will be the subject of the next conference of interior ministers . 

The CDU interior expert Armin Schuster , however, called for contentual discussion with corona protest groups such as "Not without us" or "Resistance 2020" . "To dismiss these groups as spinners is too short for me," Schuster recently told Rheinische Post . "We have to politically position them with their nonsense and expose them as saboteurs to our globally recognized infection protection success."

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is said to have spoken of “organized disinformation from Russia” in relation to the Corona demos  . That is what the picture from the  switch with the CDU Presidium * of May 11 has learned. Merkel therefore described the protests as "worrying".

Corona demos: horror over Kemmerich - who talks about "next time"

Update from May 12, 8:26 a.m .: After the sometimes aggressive protests against state requirements due to the Corona crisis , the head of the German Trade Union Confederation, Reiner Hoffmann , called on citizens to distance themselves from radical forces . "With all understanding for people's concerns: I can only warn against joining an alliance of conspiracy theorists, right-wing extremists and science deniers," Hoffmann told the German Press Agency.

Thomas Kemmerich.

© dpa / Martin Schutt

Update of May 11, 6:22 p.m .: After taking part in a demonstration against the corona restrictions at the weekend and receiving much criticism , the Thuringian head of the FDP, Thomas Kemmerich, spoke up on Twitter and defended again. "Why was I in Gera? Because I don't want parts of the middle class to be taken up by the AfD with their concerns , ”the 55-year-old writes about the short message service. 

Because of his negative attitude towards representatives and supporters of the AfD, he was approached verbally according to his own statements at the demonstration : "Because of my distance to the right, I was shouted down by them there."

The FDP politician also commented on the allegations that he had not worn a breathing mask .  "Like the local police, for example, I didn't wear my face mask all the time. I would do it differently next time, ”writes Kemmerich. So Kemmerich does not seem to rule out attending another demonstration against the corona restrictions.

Like the local police, for example, I didn't wear my munitions all the time. I would do it differently next time. 2/2

Corona demos in Germany: horror over Kemmerich - CSU general with frontal attack

Update of May 11, 2:19 p.m .: The participation of FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich in a demonstration against corona restrictions has prompted CSU Secretary General Markus Blume to criticize the party with drastic words. " At the FDP, the fuses blow , Christian Lindner does not have his party under control," said the CSU politician at the German Press Agency in Munich. He further said that the FDP is a total failure after a total failure . 

Blume criticized the corona protest of the Thuringian FDP chief with reference to the fact that Kemmerich demonstrated with right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists and thereby violated the duty to wear distance and a mask. And the statement by FDP Vice Michael Theurer about the "ethically offside" Tübingen Lord Mayor and Green Party politician Boris Palmer is untenable for Blume. Theurer had described Palmer as a “clever mind” and, given the Greens' demands for leaving the party, had located him near the FDP.

Demos against corona restrictions: Kemmerich's participation by party colleagues criticized

Update from May 11, 11:54 a.m .: After FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich took part in a demonstration against corona restrictions at the weekend without wearing a suitable protective mask * or paying attention to the required minimum distance from other people, the sound now sounds the ranks of free democrats more and more criticism . Party leader Christian Lindner had already announced on Sunday via Twitter that he had "no understanding" of Kemmerich's behavior. 

Corona demos in Germany: horror over Kemmerich - party colleague: "is an embarrassing guy"

And FDP interior expert Konstantin Kuhle also dealt massively with his party colleagues in an interview with the Bild newspaper. "If you have a certain role model function as a politician , then you have to either keep the distance rules * or wear a face mask at such demonstrations. If you don't do that , you're negligent, you're a bad role model, and frankly you're an embarrassing guy, ”Kuhle criticized the Thuringian FDP boss.

That Kemmerich had disregarded both of the precautionary measures addressed by Kuhle could be seen in pictures of the demonstration with around 600 participants in Gera on Saturday. The participation of AfD representatives in the protests also ensured that Kemmerich's behavior was criticized. "He thereby weakened the arguments of the FDP," said Lindner on Monday in the RTL program "Good Morning Germany". 

Demos against corona restrictions: Lindner criticizes Kemmerich sharply on TV

The FDP federal chairman emphasized that his party is committed to a better reconciliation of health protection with freedom , social and economic life. But one should not come close to right-wing extremists, the AfD, the left or conspiracy theorists , Lindner demanded. "That weakens a serious party's concern in the middle," he said. 

Kemmerich has now admitted that he behaved incorrectly during the weekend rally . He emphasized that there was no sympathy for the AfD. Nevertheless, the first party colleagues , including FDP federal board member Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, are now even calling for Kemmerich's withdrawal from the FDP , reports the Bild newspaper. 

In this regard , Kuhle warned against hasty action . "Anyone who has ever dealt with party exclusion procedures knows that this is not an easy number, but that you have to think very carefully about it," said the interior expert. Precisely because it is such a “difficult story”, something like this has to be discussed and decided in peace in the responsible committees. "We have a federal board meeting next Monday , that's where it belongs and then you can discuss it," he announced.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the members of the Corona Cabinet also had a lot to discuss on Monday morning. In a meeting you discussed how to proceed in the Corona crisis. 

Demos against corona restrictions - CDU general secretary warns of infiltration

Update of May 11, 8:44 a.m .: In some German cities, thousands of people took to the streets at the weekend to demonstrate against the restrictions in the Corona crisis . It was not uncommon for distance rules and the ban on large assemblies to be disregarded. 

Now CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak has warned against the infiltration of the protests against the state requirements to curb the corona virus. "We do not allow extremists to use the corona crisis as a platform for their anti-democratic propaganda , " he told the Augsburger Allgemeine (Monday edition). As a people's party, the CDU always takes citizens' concerns seriously. And the party is also grateful that the large majority of Germans support the restrictions with a lot of understanding, Ziemiak emphasized. "But it is also clear that we are taking action against those who are now fueling citizens' concerns with conspiracy theories and circulating fake news."

Also SPD chief Saskia Esken was critical in terms of Corona demonstrations. Who deny the pandemic and visits to violate safety regulations , the uncertainty of men "shameless" use of , she said. She further emphasized that spreading false messages about the corona pandemic was aimed at "destabilizing and dividing society". She also called for "clarification" to respond. She also appealed to the citizens who approved the restrictions. 

By the way: Christian Deutschländer, head of the political editorial department at Munich's Merkur, also commented on the demonstrations against the corona restrictions last weekend. The images make “in the mind” doubt, the editor comments. 

And while the demonstrations against Corona restrictions were in full swing at the weekend, many people are now also concerned with the question: Where to spend the summer vacation in Corona times? Merkur.de * also tells you which countries are likely to allow tourists to return in the foreseeable future .

Before going on vacation, many children and adolescents also have school classes in attendance form on the program. But the association of cities and municipalities has now warned of massive difficulties in gradually resuming school operations. 

Demos against Corona restrictions: FDP politician Kemmerich also participates - Lindner reacts

Update from May 10, 1:56 p.m .: After his party colleague from Thuringia, Thomas  Kemmerich , took part in a  demonstration against the applicable corona rules , FDP chief Christian  Lindner now intervened  . He condemned Kemmerich's behavior via Twitter: “@KemmerichThL's action weakens our arguments.  I have no understanding for this, ”says Linder via Twitter. 

"Anyone who campaigns for civil rights and an intelligent opening strategy does not demonstrate with obscure circles and does not forego distance and protection," continues Lindner.

Anyone who campaigns for civil rights and an intelligent opening strategy does not demonstrate with obscure circles and does not forego distance and protection. @KemmerichThL's action weakens our arguments. I have no understanding for that. CL (2/2)

Thousands demonstrate against Corona restrictions: Kemmerich too - now there are serious allegations

First report from May 10th:

Munich / Berlin / Dortmund - The lockdown in Germany had come into effect after pictures from Italy triggered fears of an overload of the health system in this country too. According to the Johns Hopkins University, 171,324 people in Germany have now been shown to be infected with the coronavirus and 7,594 patients have died in connection with it. 

Against ongoing restrictions , thousands of people took to the streets nationwide on Saturday. The main motives for the protests are the restrictions on private and economic life, but also the closure of borders * and the fear of violating fundamental rights - such as new laws on the use of vaccines *, which in many places are fueled by conspiracy theorists. The grand coalition had already rejected speculation that vaccination was mandatory.

Sometimes right-wing extremist groups mingled with the demonstrators or called for their own demonstrations. In Thuringia, the demonstrations were accompanied by the AfD and political celebrities from the FDP .

Corona demos in Germany: violent clashes in Berlin

More than a thousand people had gathered for an undeclared demonstration on Alexanderplatz in Berlin. As the police said on Twitter, they were asked to leave the square.

Several hundred people gathered in the #Alexanderplatz area for the purpose of expressing their opinions. This is according to # covid19 containment regulation not allowed. We address the people specifically and ask to leave the square.

After some of the police did not follow the orders, dismissals were given and - in the event of resistance - "simple physical violence" was used. An AFP journalist reported that the demonstrators had also thrown bottles. TV chef Attila Hildmann was among those detained by the police.

At a meeting at the Reichstag building , there were about 30 arrests. For several weeks now, up to 50 people have been demonstrating on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz .

Corona demos in Germany: Thomas Kemmerich demonstrates in Thuringia

On Twitter, Thuringia's ex-Prime Minister Thomas Kemmerich (FDP) *, who had been elected Prime Minister in February with AfD votes, announced that he had participated in a demonstration in Gera for "proportionality". He distanced himself from the AfD , but according to a report by the editorial network in Germany, AfD politicians also attended the meeting.

Today I attended an event in #Gera. For proportionality and a # corona exit with measure and middle. The organizer was Peter Schmidt, entrepreneur and member of the #CDU #Wirtschaftsrat. There were two speakers: the notifying entrepreneur and me. #NoAfD pic.twitter.com/XcJ432YdbN

Criticism of him came promptly - also on Twitter and in the person of his predecessor and successor, Bodo Ramelow (Die LINKE):

Keep your distance or mouth / nose protection / covering? - Nothing!
Role model? - Nothing! https://t.co/tKY7qk1DGl

Ramelow forwarded a newspaper report accusing Kemmerich of neither keeping his distance , nor wearing a mask and thus failing to act as a role model. Pictures also show this. Other FDP members also criticized Kemmerich - also for lining up with AfD officials in protests.

Thomas Kemmerich after the Prime Minister election in Thuringia in February

© dpa / Martin Schutt

Corona demos: AfD and right-wing extremists among the demonstrators

Many people may justify legitimate concerns about fundamental rights - the proportionality of the lockdown is now also being questioned by experts. The problem with this, however, is that it is simply not differentiated from right-wing radicals and conspiracy theorists. This is shown, among other things, by videos of a user on Twitter:

No assembly according to @PolizeiSachsen and # assembly authority pic.twitter.com/pjahyUAuaC

The user filmed how several hundred people are walking through a street and obviously demonstrating - on his private blog he reports that among other things, a right-wing city councilor was among the demonstrators. Despite failure to comply with the distance requirement, the police present had made no attempts to dissolve the assembly.

Corona demos in Germany: Munich ignore distance requirement

According to AFP, right-wing extremists had also mixed up in demonstrations in Dortmund  and Berlin - the two demos were resolved with loudspeaker announcements. In Munich, 36 personal details were recorded at a meeting from the far-right spectrum in front of the town hall.

In addition to Berlin, Gera ,  Dortmund and Munich , demonstrations were also held yesterday in Bremen , Stuttgart and Plauen - where the protests were mostly peaceful, according to AFP reports. The police had to intervene in Munich : with more than a thousand participants , far more than the 80 people registered had gathered at Marienplatz, it was no longer possible to keep the distance requirement , and the protest escalated in Nuremberg. 

Slogans at the demonstration in Cologne caused some surprise - people were asked by participants to enter shops without masks in the future.

AFP / cat

* Merku r.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen digital editorial network.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Jesco Denzel