In the traffic light coalition, clear differences in attitudes towards the current climate protests in Berlin have become apparent. After Steffi Lemke (Greens), Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, showed understanding for the approach of climate activists who regularly block motorways in Berlin, her cabinet colleague Marco Buschmann (FDP) reacted with clear criticism.
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“In German law, civil disobedience is neither a justification nor an excuse. Unannounced demonstrations on freeways are and will remain illegal. Protest is ok, but only within the framework of the law and the constitution,” wrote the justice minister on Twitter.
Reason for this reaction were sympathetic statements by the Environment Minister with a view to the motorway protests. “It is absolutely legitimate to demonstrate for your concerns and to use forms of civil disobedience,” said the Green politician at a round of talks at the Europe 2022 conference of the Tagesspiegel, ZEIT, Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche on Wednesday.
The statements of Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke can be seen here in the video (from 3:42:45 to minute 3:45:00):
Lemke referred to her own past and the peaceful revolution in the former GDR, but admitted that this was not entirely comparable. Lemke also made it clear that such protests “should not harm anyone and that civil disobedience should not affect anyone in a way that harm could occur.”
According to Lemke, it is the duty and obligation of politicians – both government and opposition – to prevent the radicalization of climate activists by fulfilling the mandate to act of the commitment to climate goals made at the climate conference in Paris.
FDP reacted indignantly
Like Buschmann, his party friend Konstantin Kuhle, deputy chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, made his displeasure with Lemke’s statements clear. “Members of the federal government must not call for crimes. Point,” he wrote on Twitter.
Other FPD politicians also reacted with incomprehension to Lemke’s statements. Member of the Bundestag Daniel Föst tweeted that it was “good that at least the FDP is paying attention to the rule of law”.
As late as Wednesday evening, Lemke countered assumptions about a dispute that had flared up within the traffic light alliance in the face of such statements.
“I’m going to disappoint everyone who’s waiting for a juicy coalition crash. I agree with my colleague Marco Buschmann,” wrote the Green politician on Twitter. Accordingly, this attitude is “clearly formulated” in her statement.
Initiative insists on positioning Scholz
The climate protests in Berlin are now in their third week and during this time the Berlin city autobahn is the busiest autobahn in Germany become their focal point.
Between five and fifty people in high-visibility vests lay and sit on the freeway, mostly in front of traffic lights at exits. The traffic builds up quickly angry drivers sometimes became violent.
With a view to illegal actions, in which an ambulance got stuck in a traffic jam in Berlin, the initiative argued: “An emergency also justifies violations of the law. And we are in an emergency situation.”
The blockades on the current campaign “Save food – save lives” would only end if the federal government passed a law against throwing away food.
The initiative also made it clear that they expected a reaction from the Federal Chancellor. “The alleged climate chancellor Olaf Scholz continues to remain silent,” criticized the activists in a statement. According to this, despite previous announcements, this allows “large amounts of good food to be thrown away every day, while the needy stand in ever longer queues at the tables”.
“We need action. We are in the middle of a climate emergency,” the initiative said. “The government must act now.”
Since the protests began on January 24, there have been 37 blockades in several cities, and according to the police, 29 actions have taken place in Berlin. According to the activists, the police have taken participants into custody 164 times since they were sitting cross-legged on motorway exits.
Federal Environment Minister Lemke wants to examine lawsuits against taxonomy
Lemke also explained during the round of talks that it was still possible for Germany to opt out of the lawsuits brought by Austria and Luxembourg against the EU taxonomy. “I am not yet familiar with the Austrian application. We will examine what aspects are presented there and how important they are. We will then discuss this within the federal government and find a position on it,” she said.
Regarding the taxonomy legal act presented a few days ago by the European Commission, in which nuclear power and natural gas are treated as climate-friendly transitional technologies, the Green politician says: “It would not have been necessary to issue a ‘Delegated Act’ for both energy sources. That’s already greenwashing, what happens when an attempt is made to stick a sustainability seal on it for the long-term.” That counteracts the taxonomy.