Riots in Bern in 2007
The riots in Bern occurred on October 6, 2007, two weeks before the parliamentary elections , when an authorized move by the Swiss People's Party (SVP) was disrupted by an unauthorized and violent counter-demonstration by the “ Black Sheep ” committee .
Happening
The SVP itself called for a festival with a parade in Bern. The political opponents, however, used the term March on Bern , which should suggest a reference to a demonstration by the fascist National Front in 1937 or directly to Mussolini's March on Rome in 1922. The “ Black Sheep ” committee, which was supported by left- wing radicals , trade unions and some left-wing parties , called for a counter-demonstration and a blockade of the SVP rally - approved by the Bern city authorities - despite the rejected application . In doing so, the committee wanted to prevent the " large-scale racist march " and to express the " disgust for the SVP hate campaigns ".
As a result, hundreds of counter-demonstrators tried to block the SVP rally in downtown Bern at the beginning with sit-in strikes, and later to break it up by force. In the process, they injured several dozen demonstrators, passers-by and emergency services, including many seriously. They also demolished cars, food stalls and public facilities and set some of them on fire. The Bundesplatz, where the SVP wanted to conclude its rally, was stormed.
The “ Black Sheep ” committee described the campaign as a success.
Public effect
All Swiss parties condemned the riots as an attack on the freedom to demonstrate . At the same time, however, left-wing parties postulated complicity on the part of the SVP because of their polarizing style in general and because the demonstration in question was held as a provocation. In relation to the latter, individual representatives of the political center, but also the then SVP Federal Councilor Samuel Schmid , expressed certain reserves. Representatives of the extreme left saw the blockade of the SVP rally as a victory. The SVP rally was criticized by various sides as an unnecessary or exaggerated show of power by the SVP because of the tough election campaign.
With astonishment and concern, some international media took note that the largest party in the government in Switzerland can advertise this and that there are political riots. The Independent asked on its front page on October 7th: "Has Switzerland become the heart of darkness in Europe?" and the New York Times reported on the front page of the rioting in Bern on October 8th.
Political Consequences
The decision-makers in the Bern police force were accused of not having provided the associations deployed with the necessary team and skills. After the riots, the Bern municipal council commissioned lawyer Dr. Peter Schorer, former police director of the city of St.Gallen, to write a report with recommendations; this report was presented to the public on December 19, 2007. Bern's security director Stephan Hügli was subsequently dropped by his own party, the FDP , which no longer nominated him for the upcoming municipal council elections on November 30, 2008. He resigned from the party and ran on his own list ( “Die Mitte” forum ), but was not re-elected.
Individual evidence
- ^ Election campaign in Switzerland: Serious riots during SVP march through Bern. In: Spiegel Online. Retrieved May 19, 2012 .
- ↑ SVP fails with “March on Bern”. In: Indymedia. Retrieved March 29, 2013 .
- ↑ Between SVP heaven and black hell. In: NZZ. Retrieved May 19, 2012 .
- ^ Immigration, Black Sheep and Swiss Rage. In: New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2012 (English).
- ^ Report by Dr. Peter Schorer with recommendations to the City Council of Bern. In: City of Bern, media center. Retrieved March 3, 2015 .
- ↑ FDP drops its own local council. In: The Bund. Retrieved May 19, 2012 .
- ↑ Hügli leaves the FDP in protest. In: The Bund. Retrieved May 19, 2012 .
- ↑ Hügli's fight against the past. In: The Bund. Retrieved May 19, 2012 .
- ^ Nause new in the local council, Hügli voted out. In: The Bund. Retrieved May 19, 2012 .