NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul is concerned: In the Corona crisis, the center of society will be attacked from all sides, according to the CDU politician
Düsseldorf - Herbert Reul is not only the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, he is also undisputedly a political beauty of old age.
At the end of a long career, as a hands-on pragmatist, he has earned respect not only in his own ranks but also among the opposition and is considered a popular heavyweight in the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia.
His word carries weight and his assessments are unvarnished.
A first address, then, if you want to find out something about the development and condition of a restless society in difficult times.
So what, I asked him, is his assessment of the situation at the end of this turbulent year?
Herbert Reul: "Corona crisis is a stress test for the middle of society"
"Like so much, the current security situation is clearly dominated by the corona pandemic," says Reul. “For example, it has a strong impact on police crime statistics. The crime is shifting to the net. With the pandemic, life is happening more online and crime comes after. There is a shift in crime. ”But something else worries him as well:“ The Corona crisis is a stress test for the middle of society. From the right, from the left, by Islamists, by racists, by corona deniers, online on the Internet - the center is under attack. We are bombarded with conspiracy myths, false news, anti-science, homophobia, distrust. "
Herbert Reul has been Minister of the Interior for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2017.
Before that, the CDU politician was a member of the European Parliament for 13 years.
Herbert Reul was born in 1952 in Langenfeld (Mettmann district), before starting his political career in 1985 he worked as a teacher at a grammar school in Wermelskirchen (Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis)
Increasing emotionalization and willingness to use violence among corona deniers
And one thing in particular bothers him: “The increasing radicalization is particularly evident in parts of the lateral thinker movement. This is also confirmed by the current images of the Corona protests all over Germany. ”With reference to North Rhine-Westphalia, he states that the state“ is still a long way from where other federal states are: Our security authorities are observing an increasing emotionalization and willingness to use violence. ” Corona denier scene is "the rejection of the COVID-19 protective measures." Reul is concerned that the corona protests are developing "more and more into an unconstitutional and security-endangering situation".
“It is noticeable that often more participants take part than previously stated by the organizers.
Unannounced demonstrations, which are often described as trivializing so-called walks, are also increasing, ”the minister observed.
“We will have to see in the next few weeks and months what extent this might still assume.
“The police and the protection of the constitution”, he assures, “have an eye on the situation.”
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Our guest author Michael Hirz
Michael Hirz from the Cologne Press Club was until recently the program manager of the political broadcaster Phoenix and moderated the “International Morning Pint”. Michael Hirz is now a freelance journalist, communications consultant and sits on the board of the Cologne press club. This post comes from the Press Club newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.
