Heavy car traffic and corresponding disruptions can be expected on Munich’s streets this Friday, not only because of the effects of the strike by the GDL train drivers’ union on S-Bahn operations. The regional association of Bavarian transport and logistics companies (LBT) had already registered a rally with the district administration department (KVR) before the GDL’s strike call to protest against the federal government’s policies. “We assume that several hundred trucks will take part in our campaign,” says Stephan Doppelhammer, the general manager of the LBT.
The rally is scheduled to take place on Theresienwiese from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and trucks will drive into the city from all directions in a star shape from 7 a.m. onwards. Around 800 trucks, some with trailers, were announced via the LBT alone. There are probably between 250 and 500 additional vehicles organized by other organizations or initiatives to provide support. For example, a protest trip from Bad Aibling to Munich is planned. In the state capital, disruptions are to be expected during the arrival and departure of meeting participants, especially on the Mittlerer Ring.
The association emphasizes that it has no plans to block roads; The only goal is to get to the meeting place on Theresienwiese. Because the trucks are used as a means of demonstration, just like the tractors at the farmers’ protest on Odeonsplatz last Monday, the diesel driving ban on the Mittlerer Ring and in the city center does not apply to them. “In these cases, the right to assembly overrides the city’s requirements,” said police spokesman Andreas Franken on Thursday. As the KVR specified upon request, no separate permit is required for an activity related to the meeting, such as driving diesel vehicles into the low-emission zone. “Any other assessment would restrict freedom of assembly and would not be proportionate,” said a KVR spokesman.
Eight speakers are scheduled to speak on a stage between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday. In addition to representatives from Bavarian business and industrial associations, the Deputy Bavarian Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) and Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) have also been announced. From federal politics come Dieter Jancek (Greens), Federal Government Coordinator for Economy and Tourism, as well as the deputy parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU opposition, Ulrich Lange.
“We will honor all supply contracts”
Even before Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) was prevented from leaving a ferry by an angry, aggressive crowd last week, the LBT had explicitly asked its supporters to respect the privacy of all its conversation partners: “Please refrain from actions in front of private houses and apartments and personal hostilities.”
As LBT managing director Doppelhammer announced, representatives of the AfD were deliberately not invited to the demo on Friday. His organization wants to sharply differentiate itself from attempts at infiltration and propaganda that, for example, tries to unsettle the population with wild calls for strikes. “We will comply with all delivery contracts so that supplies are maintained,” assured Doppelhammer.
The entire transport industry is complaining about burdens that have been further exacerbated by the federal government’s toll law, which came into force on December 1st. “The conditions we are currently being subjected to are no longer acceptable,” says Doppelhammer.