Controversial demo in Berlin: who comes to Wagenknecht and Schwarzer?

The Wagenknecht-Schwarzer demonstration on the occasion of the Ukraine war is taking place in Berlin today under the motto “Rebellion for Peace”. There is plenty of criticism in advance – among other things, because extremists could take part.

After a large demonstration in support of Ukraine in the evening in Berlin, opponents of further arms deliveries want to take to the streets today. The demonstration on the first anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine was initiated by left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht and publicist Alice Schwarzer. They are also calling for negotiations and compromises “on both sides”.

10,000 participants are registered with the police. The police will be deployed with significantly more forces than yesterday because the demonstrators could come from very different political camps and conflicts are feared.

Schwarzer and Wagenknecht published a “Manifesto for Peace” two weeks ago. More than 620,000 people gave their consent online.

Criticism from federal politics

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) criticized the demonstration: “Everyone who is sane and sane wants peace,” he said yesterday in the ARD focal point. Wagenknecht and her supporters wanted to sell something as peace that an “imperialist dictator” was imposing on Europe. If that goes through, it would be an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade the next few countries.

Leading politicians from the SPD and Left Party also distanced themselves. SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich told the “Rheinische Post”: “Ms. Wagenknecht’s point of view is not mine.” From his point of view, it would have been good if the call had been more clearly demarcated from radical currents. However, Mützenich also said that one had to recognize that parts of the population wanted an even stronger focus on peace talks.

Left party leader Janine Wissler also criticized the call for the event. She worries about how to deal with the mobilization in right-wing circles. “The call has a blank there,” Wissler told the Funke newspapers.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday in the ZDF program “Maybritt Illner” that he “does not share the conviction of this call”. It is not enough to say that negotiations must now take place. That doesn’t lead any further. One has to understand “that the Russian President currently only accepts one form of negotiations, namely that someone surrenders unconditionally and he implements all his goals”.

The Protestant theologian Margot Käßmann, one of the first to sign the manifesto, declared that she would not take part in the rally because Schwarzer and Wagenknecht did not distinguish themselves from the right.

Schwarzer defends demonstration and manifesto

Alice Schwarzer contradicted the allegations. “Of course we will take action against any kind of right-wing extremist propaganda on the square,” she assured the dpa news agency. Wagenknecht and they stand for the opposite of right-wing politics. In view of the number of people who have signed the manifesto, it is “well on the way to becoming a real citizens’ movement”. She is amazed that Scholz does not seem to take the concerns of so many people seriously: “This is about the survival of mankind.”

Schwarzer also denied that she was generally against arms sales to Ukraine. However, these would have to be accompanied by diplomatic efforts. It is absolutely not true that she and Wagenknecht wanted to accept a capitulation from the Ukraine. “But after a year of death and destruction, I also ask: What is stopping us from starting negotiations now instead of waiting three years?”

More than 10,000 in Berlin for Ukraine support

On Friday evening, more than 10,000 people demonstrated in Berlin against the war and demanded support from Ukraine. At a rally, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) and the Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev called for solidarity with Ukraine. They were accompanied on stage by many ambassadors from other European countries. In front of the Russian embassy near the Brandenburg Gate, people chanted: “Russia is a terrorist state”.

Makeiev thanked the Germans for their “fantastic solidarity”. A million Ukrainians have found protection and Germany has supplied weapons. “German weapons save lives. German weapons save Ukrainians,” he shouted. About the opponents of further arms deliveries, Makeiev said: “Peace must be fought for.”