Bern’s security director defends ban on demonstrations until Christmas
Published: Wednesday, Nov 8th 2023, 15:10
Updated At: Thursday, Nov 9th 2023, 00:54
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Reto Nause (center), Director of Security for the City of Bern, has defended the city government's decision not to permit any more large demonstrations in the city center until Christmas.
The city has approved three Palestine rallies in recent weeks, said Nause in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency on Wednesday. These demonstrations had taken place in a special emotional atmosphere and had always been accompanied by a large police contingent.
"That's all right now", said Nause. By approving the three demonstrations and two Israel vigils, the city of Bern had satisfied freedom of expression for the time being.
Nause rejected any legal objections to the municipal council's decision. "As a licensing authority, we can certainly impose certain restrictions," he said. "This applies to the route of parades, the rules for square demonstrations, but also the frequency of demonstrations."
Nowhere in the Federal Constitution is it written that there is a right to take to the streets every week on the same topic with the same demands.
"Other interests too"
There are many events and occasions in the city of Bern over the next few weeks, from the Christmas markets to the state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Zibelemärit and the Champions League match between Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade.
To those who always value freedom of expression more highly, he posed a question: "Do we have to cancel the state visit and the YB match in order to make freedom of expression possible? Other interests also have their legitimacy, not just rallies."
Open questions on Federal Council elections
Nause also pointed out that vigils in the city center could still be approved, as could demonstrations outside the city center. According to the security director, it is still unclear whether rallies could be permitted in the city center on 13 December, the day of the Federal Council elections.
"We are still looking at this in detail," said Nause. The framework conditions for the Federal Council elections are not yet clear.
According to Nause, no applications for further Middle East rallies are currently pending.
©Keystone/SDA
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