Merkel at the press conference on the new Corona measures with Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (left) and Hamburg's First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (right)
Photo: MICHELE TANTUSSI / AFPChancellor Angela Merkel has shown understanding for the ban on a planned demonstration by opponents of the Corona policy in Berlin. "It is clear that Berlin also attaches great importance to the fact that demonstrations are also subject to hygiene regulations. So: respect it," she said.
The Berlin police had banned a demonstration planned for Saturday in the capital. With the expected group of participants, violations of the current infection protection ordinance were to be expected, said Interior Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD), who also stated that he did not want to offer a platform for "Corona deniers, Reich citizens and right-wing extremists". (Read an interview with the Senator for the Interior here).
"I respect the Berlin decision"
Angela Merkel
"I respect the Berlin decision," said Merkel. "And we also have judicial review channels in Germany, we are a constitutional state. We'll see how that develops." She emphasized: "Otherwise I don't have to make this decision. It was a Berlin decision."
The organizer initiative lateral thinking 711 from Stuttgart has lodged an objection with the Berlin administrative court. For the largest of several rallies, she had registered 22,000 participants for Saturday near the Brandenburg Gate. Calls appeared on the Internet to travel to the capital despite the ban and to protest. Sometimes violence was threatened and a political overthrow demanded.
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