Climate demonstrators penetrate the Federal Ministry of Finance – Lindner’s office is also blocked

Climate protection demonstrators broke into the Federal Ministry of Finance in Berlin on Monday and protested there with posters and chants.

As a police spokesman told rbb in the early afternoon, around 20 to 30 people got into the building. Some would have stuck themselves in the entrance area – for example at the reception desk – others stayed on a balcony of the large building on Wilhelmstrasse. The deployment is still ongoing, the personal details of those involved would be determined. Around 40 other people demonstrated in front of the ministry.

The Last Generation group tweeted a video showing young people holding banners with English-language inscriptions in a large hall. They wrote that Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had promised to advise on a haircut for poor countries. But it is “an empty promise”. Another group asked Lindner to speak to her on site.

The climate protection group “Extinction Rebellion” also published photos of the action on Twitter. On it are banners calling for debt relief for poor countries. According to the tweet, Lindner’s office was also blocked.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Federal Finance Minister Lindner spoke to the demonstrators. Then they parted peacefully. “The minister’s office was not blocked.” Lindner tweeted: “In Washington we met about debt with African countries. We’ll stay tuned. So I didn’t need the action, but it didn’t disturb the service. CL.”

Climate activists had previously obstructed commuter traffic in Berlin again. As the police confirmed to rbb, there were blockades on Messedamm and Kurt-Schumacher-Damm in the morning. The Heckerdamm exit on Autobahn 111 was temporarily blocked.

According to information from the rbb traffic radio, there was also a blockade on the A100 at the Insbrucker Platz exit. Some of them glued themselves to the streets. Traffic jams formed.

In the past few weeks and months, members of the “Last Generation” group have repeatedly stuck themselves to the streets, causing traffic jams. The group calls for an immediate stop to fossil fuels and cheap local public transport.

On Sunday evening, climate protection activists demonstrated at a major world health congress in Berlin, blocked an entrance and set off a false fire alarm. In addition, they had set off at least two other false fire alarms in Bundestag buildings in the past week. The police and fire brigade each arrived.

At the same time, the group had announced that it would expand its blockade actions or other disruptions this week. The demonstrators are calling for more measures to protect the climate.

Berlin’s Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger (SPD), has condemned the latest protest actions by climate activists – especially the triggering of the fire alarm. Lives are being played with here, Spranger said on Monday in the Interior Committee of the House of Representatives.

In each case, a complaint was filed on suspicion of misuse of emergency calls and impairment of accident prevention measures. The law provides for up to a year in prison or a fine.

Broadcast: Radioeins, October 17, 2022, 10 a.m