In the cold season, the Christ Child is the ambassador of the city of Nuremberg, at that time – so it is said – even the mayor has to step into the second row. Since this week the famous Christkindlesmarkt, also known as “the little town made of wood and cloth”, has been set up on the main market, the new Christkind has also been chosen, so the reign of Nuremberg’s most popular office bearer begins. Now, from a purely source point of view, the Christ Child is supposed to look back on a not uncomplicated time of birth around two millennia ago due to circumstances. And so it would be exciting to see how the lovely child – if it were actually the head of government of Nuremberg – would jump around with another, improvised “little town made of wood and cloth”, which is about 300 meters away from the main market: the Nuremberg climate camp.
A detailed legal dispute has broken out there these days, for which an advanced seminar in administrative law would be helpful. Roughly speaking, it is initially about the fact that the campers – who hold up the city’s failings in terms of protection of creation – have pitched their tents within sight of the town hall for more than 42o days and this, according to the will of the (CSU-OB Marcus König , not run by the Christkind) city, at the latest with the beginning of the Christkindlesmarkt. The public order office argues that Sebalder Platz is needed for rescue workers. The climate campers argue that they need the space for the necessary audience reach – after all, it is important to draw attention to a problem of global proportions.
The Christkindlesmarkt is commercially interesting
At first it looked as if the campers were also dealing with this fundamental question in a court of law. But now one tries to get together at least on that point. A compromise could be that the campers move to the town hall parking lot, where city councilors usually park their car – while the climate and creation catastrophe can continue to be pointed out in a remaining pavilion on Sebalder Platz. It would also be possible for the campers to retreat under the only tree in the said space and leave space for any rescue helicopters. They meet almost every day at the moment, the outcome is open.
However, the city and campers are actually arguing about details in court. To the displeasure of the activists. One year one was good enough for the city to show itself to be tolerant and climate-conscious, says meeting leader Markus Feuerlein. But now, when it comes to the nitty-gritty, around the Christkindlesmarkt, which is “commercially” not uninteresting for Nuremberg, show the city its true colors and cover the campers with “harassment”. What particularly annoyed the activists: Only since the CSU complained that the goals of the campers were now “communicated through”, the Sebalder Platz must now be available again for other things, if the wind from the regulatory office has become sharper, says Feuerlein.
The activists lost out in the first instance
The activists have filed a lawsuit against the city’s new regulations – but they lost out in the first instance. The city has triumphed in four out of five disputed points, says the city lawyer involved in the cause. The spokesman for the Ansbach Administrative Court, Timm Waldmann, confirms this. The activists are not allowed to store any food in the camp and have to dismantle technical equipment, such as refrigerators or kettles. The number of pavilions and the number of those who watch the camp at night will also be limited. And a bicycle workshop is also not covered by the constitutionally protected right of assembly.
“The Christ Child invites you to his market, and whoever comes there should be welcome,” says the child from the gallery. They didn’t feel welcome anymore, say the climate campers. It is decided to move to the second administrative court instance. For the time being, there will be no Christmas peace in Nuremberg.