“Perfectly legitimate to use forms of civil disobedience as well.”
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke has not been in office long, so she is causing quite a bit of irritation within the traffic light coalition. The Green politician had expressed understanding for the ongoing series of street blockades by climate activists and was then rebuked by Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).
It was “absolutely legitimate to demonstrate for one’s concerns and also to use forms of civil disobedience,” said the 54-year-old at the European conference of Handelsblatt, “Tagesspiegel”, “Wirtschaftswoche” and “Zeit”. Buschmann contradicted on Twitter: “In German law, civil disobedience is neither a justification nor an excuse. Unannounced demos on motorways are and remain illegal. Protest is ok, but only within the framework of the law and the constitution.”
Other FDP politicians also reacted with incomprehension to Lemke’s statements. So tweeted the member of the Bundestag Daniel Föstit is “good that at least the FDP is paying attention to the rule of law”.
Activists of the “Last Generation” climate protection initiative had recently blocked roads and motorways several times – especially in Berlin, but also in other cities such as Hamburg or Stuttgart. They are calling for a law against food waste and an immediate change in agriculture to reduce greenhouse gases from agriculture.
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SPD General Secretary Kühnert distances himself from activists
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert distanced himself from the activists. He does have sympathy for their concerns. “But I think the choice of means was completely wrong,” said Kühnert at the European conference. “What kind of signal is that to the home care nurse who’s sitting in her car and doesn’t make it on time to see that woman who’s bedridden and needs her underwear changed?” Road blockades just hit the wrong people and are ” more likely to harm the honorable cause.”
Given the occasion: under German law, civil disobedience is neither a justification nor an excuse. Unannounced demonstrations on freeways are and will remain illegal. Protest is ok, but only within the framework of the law and the constitution.
— Marco Buschmann (@MarcoBuschmann) February 9, 2022
Lemke, who comes from Dessau in Saxony-Anhalt, made a connection to her own past and the peaceful revolution in the former GDR with regard to the protests, but admitted that this was not entirely comparable. The minister also stressed that such protests “should not harm people and that no one should be affected by civil disobedience in a way that harm could occur”.
The Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection tried to ward off speculation about a coalition dispute late on Wednesday evening. “I’m going to disappoint everyone who’s waiting for a juicy coalition crash,” she tweeted. She agrees with her colleague Buschmann. Her position was “clearly formulated” in her statement.
More: Interview with Federal Environment Minister – Steffi Lemke promises citizens in distress quick help. On the subject of nuclear power, it is on a confrontational course with the EU.