JSVP mobilizes for “peace demo” with Covid critics – police are preparing

Something should be going on in Bern on Saturday: Various groups are calling for a “peace demonstration” on the Bundesplatz. However, there will hardly be any Ukrainian flags.

The most prominent critics of the Corona measures are on site – including “Moderate” boss Nicolas Rimoldi, Youtuber Daniel Stricker and Michael Bubendorf from the “Friends of the Constitution”. The «freedom trychler» are also expected. And with writer Nicolas Lindt, the co-founder of the leftist “Wochenzeitung” and co-initiator of the “Group for a Switzerland without an army” is also at the start.

Stricker & Co. in particular have shifted the focus from the corona pandemic to the Ukraine war – and are calling for negotiations with Russia and a waiver of sanctions and arms deliveries. The titles of Stricker’s programs are, for example: “So you too can understand Putin” or “The next staged crisis – Kremlin for beginners”.

So far, the scene has received little political support for its march. But now the Young SVP Switzerland officially supports the demonstration. Support flyers are to be made public soon. “Many politicians in Bern want Switzerland to become an active war party,” said President David Trachsel.

That was “extremely dangerous”, which is why the “war-loving parliament” had to be stopped from the street. «We stand for negotiations between the parties instead of tanks for Ukraine. We are for peace instead of warmongering,” said the Basel native. Therefore, one will certainly not turn up with Russia flags, “but with peace doves”.

Last week, however, the young party was less peaceful. In a video for the neutrality initiative, political opponents were portrayed as vandals in black hoodies.

Calls for counter-demonstrations have not yet become public. The cantonal police in Bern are aware of the action approved by the city. “We will be present on Saturday with a visible security system,” explains spokeswoman Magdalena Rast.

Some of the officials will meet the same exponents as at the demonstrations against the Corona measures at the end of 2021. Some of these ended in wild skirmishes.

Why is the JSVP now marching with prominent lateral thinkers? “We support all demonstrations that represent our values,” says Trachsel. He adds: “Anyone who pulls out the Putin club to be against neutrality has run out of arguments.”

The boys are not completely abandoned by the mother party. SVP asylum boss Andreas Glarner will also take part in the demo. The commitment to the march also causes criticism in the parliamentary group.

«I share a lot of the content of the protesters. Personally, I would not take part, »says foreign policy maker Roland Rino Büchel. “Some heads in this scene are rather dogged and I have the impression that it’s also about self-expression,” he explains.