Activist Rochel also does not rule out blocking actions at German airports. Meanwhile, traffic light coalition politicians reject a tougher criminal law for climate activists.
Despite the sharp rise in criticism of their actions, the climate protest group “Last Generation” has announced an expansion of its radical protests. “We will take our protest to all areas that will be affected by the climate catastrophe,” activist Carla Rochel told RTL on Sunday. The Union advocates toughening the criminal law for climate activists. However, this was met with rejection in the German traffic light coalition. “Last Generation” announced an expansion of their radical protests. “We will take our protest to all areas that will be affected by the climate catastrophe,” activist Carla Rochel told RTL on Sunday. The Union advocates toughening the criminal law for climate activists. However, this was met with rejection in the German traffic light coalition.
Rochel said on “stern TV am Sonntag” that her movement is not in a “popularity contest”: Activists “are not about being liked — but about making society aware that we are in a race of climate catastrophe.” When questioned, the 20-year-old did not rule out blockades at German airports. In Amsterdam, climate activists partially shut down Schiphol Airport on Saturday.
The group “Ultima Geração” recently caused an uproar with road traffic blocks and attacks on famous paintings. However, political wrangling over the actions of climate activists has intensified since a cyclist was run over by a concrete mixer during a protest blockade in Berlin last week. A special Fire Department vehicle got stuck in a traffic jam on Monday due to the blockage and therefore arrived late at the crash site. Berlin police therefore brought criminal charges against two protesters, including for failing to provide assistance. The cyclist did not survive her injuries in hospital on Thursday.
However, representatives of the traffic light coalition opposed the Union’s demand to tighten the criminal law for climate activists. FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai told Tagesspiegel (Monday’s edition) that the “continued radicalization of parts of the climate movement” was causing “great concern”. But there are already enough legal instruments available “if the boundaries of peaceful protest are crossed.”
The legal policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sonja Eichwede, made a similar statement. She fears an “even greater radicalization” of activists. But the criminal law already offers numerous possibilities of action against it. She called the Union’s demand for tougher criminal law “populist”.
CSU calls for tougher penalties
The “Bild am Sonntag” (“BamS”) reported that the Union faction wanted to introduce a bill to toughen criminal law in the Bundestag this week. Roadblockers who obstruct the passage of police, fire and rescue services should therefore face a minimum term of imprisonment in the future, and activists should also be able to be arrested as a preventive measure if there is a risk of recidivism. According to “BamS”, the union is demanding a minimum prison sentence for damaging cultural property instead of the fine that has been in force until now.
The climate protest “should not be a license to commit crimes,” CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt told the paper. “Significantly tougher penalties for climate chaos are needed to counteract further radicalization in parts of this climate movement and deter imitators.”
CSU member of the Bundestag Andrea Lindholz, chairman of the interior committee, told Welt (Monday’s edition) that the danger to people from roadblocks and damage to historic artworks “has crossed the line”. . The rule of law must react more harshly than before. “We are not going to stop the growing radicalization with fines,” warned the CSU politician.
(APA/DPA)