Environment Minister shows understanding for the highway protests – Minister of Justice disagrees
“We have no choice but to disturb here, where it really disturbs”
For days, activists have been blocking streets in major German cities to protest against food waste and for climate protection. Most drivers do not understand this.
Activists from the group “Last Generation” have promised further blockades of motorways – especially in Berlin. Environment Minister Steffi Lemke considers this to be “absolutely legitimate”. FDP politicians criticize her statement.
BGerman Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) shows understanding for the actions of climate activists, who regularly block freeways in Berlin. “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 “daily mirror“, the “Zeit”, the “Handelsblatt” and the “Wirtschaftswoche”.
Lemke referred to her own past and the peaceful revolution in the former East Germany, but admitted that it wasn’t quite comparable. The Environment Minister also made it clear that such protests “must not harm people and that no one will be affected by civil disobedience in a way that harm could occur”. It is the task and obligation of politicians – both government and opposition – to prevent the radicalization of climate activists by complying with the commitment to climate goals made at the climate conference in Paris.
The statement immediately triggered an objection from the coalition partner. Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) wrote on Twitter on Wednesday evening: Civil disobedience is neither a justification nor an excuse in German law. “Unannounced demonstrations on highways are and will remain illegal. Protest is ok, but only within the framework of the law and the constitution.”
The FDP member of the Bundestag Konstantin Kuhle, deputy chairman of his parliamentary group, shared an article on Twitter with the statements of Lemke and commented: “Members of the federal government must not call for crimes. Point.”
Lemke himself later replied to Buschmann and wrote: “I agree with my colleague Marco Buschmann.” Her statement was clearly formulated.
Climate activists announce further blockades
The series of freeway and street blockades by radical activists, especially in Berlin, is to be continued. “We will continue,” said members of the “Last Generation” initiative on Wednesday. “We won’t let them stop us. We will continue to make the autobahn a place of resistance.” The Berlin city autobahn is to be blocked again as early as Thursday.
With a view to the illegal actions, 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. According to their own statements, around 70 to 80 people are part of the initiative throughout Germany.
The Berlin House of Representatives will also discuss the blockades in a current hour on Thursday. Berlin’s governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) criticized the actions on Tuesday: “However, the way this is happening in Berlin is cross-border and unacceptable.”
In the past few weeks, the demonstrators have repeatedly blocked streets and motorways in Berlin and caused long traffic jams. They are calling for a law against food waste and an immediate change in agriculture to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in agriculture.
Again and again the same men and women – despite ads
In the past few weeks, the police have recorded more than 200 reports against blockers. In almost 170 cases, demonstrators were temporarily arrested or their personal details determined – on many days it was always the same young men and women who took part in the actions, as the police said on request.
From January 24 to February 8, the police counted a total of 29 blockades on various streets and squares in Berlin over six days, including motorway exits. Between five and 50 participants sat, lay down or glued themselves to the streets. In at least one case, a rescue operation was hampered.
By February 7, 121 administrative offenses had been reported for violating the demonstration law because the actions had not been registered accordingly. In addition, almost 50 criminal charges were filed for coercion, around 30 for resisting the police and a small number for dangerous interference in road traffic and insults.
Videos on the Internet showed that angry motorists tried to pull blockers off the road. The police strongly advised against it. Otherwise it could quickly go to the suspicion of physical harm.