Protest against Datteln 4: Court sentenced left

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Protest against Dates 4 in February

Photo: FRIEDEMANN VOGEL / EPA-EFE / REX

The left-wing Bundestag member Lorenz Gösta Beutin has been sentenced by the Recklinghausen district court to a fine of 3750 euros for trespassing.

In February of last year, Beutin accompanied demonstrators who broke into the Datteln 4 coal-fired power station in the Ruhr area.

A court spokesman said that the politician from Schleswig-Holstein was fined 25 daily rates of 150 euros each.

The judgment is not final, Beutin announced an appeal.

The politician describes himself as a "parliamentary observer" of the climate protests.

He regularly accompanies demonstrations by the environmental and climate movement.

The power plant operator Uniper had filed a criminal complaint, the public prosecutor brought charges.

The Datteln 4 power plant was still in trial operation at the time of the campaign.

It is particularly controversial because it was still connected to the grid despite the agreed coal phase-out.

The demonstrators from “Endegebiet” had occupied conveyor belts and loading facilities and unrolled a banner with the words “Exit coal - enter future”.

The court regards the action as trespassing

The term "parliamentary observer" does not justify Beutin's behavior, said the court spokesman.

"Observing is a passive activity." However, the member of the Bundestag did not only get to the power plant site, he also climbed onto a secured crane in the plant.

"Legally, that's trespassing," said the spokesman.

In a written statement, Beutin described the verdict as a "slap in the face of the peaceful climate protection movement and its supporters."

Parliamentary observation is a practiced constitution, and protests, even on the private property of a coal company, require the presence of independent observers.

They should be better protected from criminal prosecution.

It is not about special rights for MPs.

slü / dpa