It was colorful and loud, critical and controversial, original and peaceful. The demonstration on Saturday in Munich actually had everything a protest needs. “Justice is different!” shouted the demonstrators to the statesmen who were approaching Elmau. And yet disappointment remains. Seven years ago, at the last G-7 summit, 40,000 people marched through the city. This time 20,000 registered – and only around 5,000 turned up. That’s bitter.
There are probably a number of reasons for the low attendance. The overarching war in Ukraine and the perplexity of the political left as to whether they should be totally against Putin and against arms deliveries or only half. The frustration, especially among younger people who have been fighting for climate protection for years and are now experiencing the resurrection of coal. The rather short mobilization period and yes, also the bathing weather, which is often used as an excuse for staying at home, you know that from the election days.
One reason for the sparsely visited Theresienwiese may also be that there was a conspicuous vacancy. This spot has the colors green and red. Ironically, the SPD and the Greens, whose party programs were propagated in important parts on the stage, were not visible. And if there were active ones, they hid well.
International justice, solidarity with exploited people and countries, consistent climate protection, get out of coal, gas and oil, finally into renewable energies: everyone who thinks of themselves as Greens and SPD should be able to sign that. And yet there was no discernible mobilization of the two governing parties. posters? banners? Nothing that would have been noticed.
Of course, it would be nonsense to expect the Greens and SPD to demonstrate against the summit. But the demo wasn’t versus the summit, but for a more ecological, fairer policy. The protest was not organized by shady groups, but by renowned environmental and aid organizations. Did the two parties hide themselves because they were sitting at the table in Elmau? The SPD with the chancellor on the big one, the Greens with the foreign minister on the small?
It would be good for these parties in particular to do both. To rule and at the same time to make annoying compromises. At the same time, the base should make it clear to its superiors: Even if we like a lot of what you do, we remain critical in the sense of our goals and ideals. That would have been a strong signal far beyond Munich and Elmau. In view of the vacancy, the main disappointment remains.