Several thousand demonstrators again marched through central Vienna in Austria, on Saturday to protest against restrictions intended to stem the epidemic of Covid-19.
The police announced that they had made a few arrests, some at the end of the demonstration while some participants refused to disperse. Isolated clashes were reported between protesters and leftist counter-protesters.
Most of the participants did not wear masks and did not observe a physical distance as they crossed the city center towards Prater Park where the far-right FPÖ party had called them to gather.
Politics “Crazy and weird”
The last confinement in Austria was eased in February with the opening of schools, shops and museums. But the protesters are protesting against the measures still in force such as the closure of restaurants and cafes and mandatory tests for students physically present in their schools.
“When the measures that are taken result in putting nearly a million people out of work or on leave, it destroys people economically, which will obviously have long-term consequences for families and for children. living there “, denounced a protester, Christopher Pollack.
Former FPÖ Home Minister Herbert Kickl, in a speech to the crowd, accused the government of pursuing a policy “Crazy and weird”.
Protesters chanted slogans and waved placards demanding the resignation of center-right chancellor Sebastian Kurz, or hostile to the media, described as “Lying press”.
Far right
Members of the far right, including neo-Nazis, who had participated in previous protests against masks and restrictions, were once again present, according to Austrian media.
Demonstrations against the restrictions and their economic impact have increased in recent months in the country. The government has not ruled out further easing of measures on condition that the number of infections drops. But new infections reported every day have increased in recent weeks. More than 2,500 new cases were recorded on Saturday.
According to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober, the particularly contagious British variant is now dominant in Austria.
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