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Letter to the Federal Chancellor: Gregor Gysi
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa
Left-wing politician Gregor Gysi has appealed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to seek talks with climate activists from the Last Generation group.
In a letter he had asked the chancellor "to receive a delegation from the 'last generation' together with the environment minister.
So that they can listen to the concerns of these young people and also explain why and how they do politics and why some concerns are justified or, in their opinion, others are unfounded," said Gysi in an interview with the "Berliner Zeitung".
“If you talk to the activists when they feel they are being taken seriously, you might be able to get them away from types of protest that annoy many,” said the lawyer.
He has not yet received a reply from the Chancellor.
At the end of November, Gysi defended an activist in court in Berlin who had glued himself to the asphalt during road blockades in Berlin.
With the decision to accept the mandate, he wanted to draw attention to the fact that no one from the federal government had spoken to this part of the youth, said the 74-year-old.
The process ended with a guilty verdict, Gysi and his client announced an appeal, as the "Berliner Zeitung" reported.
In the interview, the left-wing politician stressed that the environmental goals of the activists were not criminal.
"These aren't swindlers or thieves," said Gysi.
»It gives me stomach ache when you apply facts that were intended for something completely different«.
Blockades since the beginning of the year
However, he believes that fines against the activists are not enough for many people.
'So Justice Ministers and other politicians feel pressured to show people that they are fighting the harassment.
And then public prosecutors are instructed to do more,” says Gysi.
Since the beginning of 2022, the "last generation" has been blocking motorway exits and intersections in Berlin and other major cities to fight for more climate protection.
There were also campaigns in museums, stadiums, ministries, at airports and on oil pipelines.
To make the evacuation more difficult, some activists also glued themselves to the asphalt.
On Tuesday, investigators searched the homes of eleven members in different federal states.
However, the group announced that it would continue its protest actions.
dam/dpa