Large turnout for Schaffhausen anti-Covid measures demo
Protestors on Saturday afternoon in Schaffhausen
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
Almost 1,000 people gathered in the northern Swiss town of Schaffhausen to protest against government measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The demonstration was peaceful, local police say.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ilj
The demonstration, which was not authorised by the authorities, is the latest in a series of protests that have been taking place in Switzerland
Schaffhausen police said in a tweetExternal link on Saturday afternoon that 925 people took part. Children and dogs were also present. “For the most part masks are not being worn. The atmosphere is peaceful. We are also staying calm,” it said.
Town authorities had originally allowed the demonstration but withdrew permissionExternal link on Thursday citing fears there could be “disruptions to law and order”.
Officials were also concerned people would not be wearing masks, in defiance of government rules. This was the case in previous demonstrations in Altdorf in central Switzerland and in Liestal in the north-west. Demo organisers still sent out a call on social media for people to come to Schaffhausen.
Police intervention, youth frustrations
Last Saturday police had to break up the 500-strong Altdorf protest, firing teargas at a group of participants, who had defied a cantonal ban on demonstrations.
On March 20 nearly 8,000 people took part in the silent protest in Liestal against restrictions introduced to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
There have also been episodes of unrest in the eastern Swiss city of St Gallen, involving mainly young people. Media reports linked the events to current Covid-19 restrictions, and the lack of social and cultural perspectives for young people.
Switzerland plans to further relax its Covid-19 restrictions from April 19, despite infections continuing to rise gradually.
More
More
Police break up unauthorised Covid demonstration in central Swiss town
This content was published on
Officers fired teargas at protestors in Altdorf on Saturday, as other cities remained mostly calm despite calls for large protests this weekend.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Swiss authorities release right-to-die activist in Sarco ‘suicide capsule’ case
This content was published on
A right-to-die activist has been released from police custody over the reported first use of the Sarco “suicide capsule”, after prosecutors ruled out the possibility of an intentional homicide.
Switzerland demands immediate halt to hostilities in Syria
This content was published on
The Swiss foreign ministry has called for an immediate end to hostilities in Syria. International humanitarian law must be respected, it declared via the social media platform X on Tuesday.
Poll: right-wing Swiss People’s Party enjoys growing support among population
This content was published on
If national elections had been held in Switzerland last month, the right-wing Swiss People's Party would have won, and increased its share of votes by 2% compared to the 2023 federal elections.
This content was published on
Swiss Black Friday revenues failed to live up to retail expectations. But sales throughout the week proved more successful.
This content was published on
The Swiss army will have CH 530 million more than expected for armaments investments after a parliamentary chamber approved the increase.
This content was published on
Swiss citizens could have access to an e-ID from 2026 as parliament has agreed to the idea in principle despite still having to iron out some minor issues.
Thousands demonstrate against Covid-19 restrictions
This content was published on
Thousands of people have protested in the north-western Swiss town of Liestal against restrictions introduced to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
Violent clashes between police and youths in St Gallen
This content was published on
Petrol bombs, rubber bullets, and tear gas were used in the eastern city on Friday night. Some 19 people were questioned by police.
This content was published on
Authorities in Rapperswil have turned down an application for a Covid-19 demonstration next month, citing the difficulty of respecting health measures.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.