Oktoberfest relocation in the summer: The police have major concerns - "You won't get out of your boots at all"

Created: 01/07/2022, 08:12 AM

From: Andreas Thieme

Securing the Munich Oktoberfest is a particular burden for the Bavarian police.

© Michaela Rehle

Bringing the Oktoberfest forward by a few weeks - this proposal from the town hall is moving the city.

The police are skeptical.

She refers to the high workload this year - and suggests a period in July.

In the past two years, the world's largest festival had to be canceled, the concerns about infection protection were too great.

The season also plays a role: in autumn, guide values ​​such as the incidence * or the hospitalization rate were always much higher than in summer.

A mass event like the Oktoberfest with plenty of alcohol consumption became much too risky.

Oktoberfest relocation: the police have major concerns

Against this background, the city has expressed its first considerations that the Oktoberfest - so that it can take place this year at all - to be brought forward one to two weeks.

Maybe even in August.

"These reports make you sit up and take notice," says the Bavarian Police Union *.

Because the city's cautious deliberations were apparently made without involving the security forces.

The state chairman of the police union, Jürgen Köhnlein, also points out that the workload of the police * in particular will increase significantly again in 2022.

Jürgen Köhnlein, state chairman of the police union © private

If the Oktoberfest is really brought forward, he suggests a period in summer.

“No other major police event would be planned in Bavaria from July 10th to 31st.

So perfect for collective partying and drinking, ”says Köhnlein, slightly mocking.

Munich: Police officers need time to reduce overtime and vacation

But: This period would be "also the only phase in which around 30,000 police officers in the Free State could best bring in their remaining vacation from 2021, tons of overtime from this year's missions and their annual vacation 2022".

Köhnlein lists: "Corona walks will keep us busy for the next few weeks.

This is followed by the security conference in Munich, spectators may be allowed to play the Bundesliga games with eight Bavarian clubs again from March, Easter marches in April, and from mid-May Passion plays in Oberammergau. ”A large team is already preparing the G7 in Elmau, which then "forces thousands of police employees into a week-long holiday ban".

The Interior Ministers' Conference will take place in Würzburg in June and the European Championships in Munich * in August.

Not even included are spontaneous political developments including demonstrations.

Munich: Chairman of the police union sees the Wiesn move forward critically

Köhnlein is therefore critical of moving the Oktoberfest forward. "My colleagues never get out of their boots and we would like to take their vacation when they need it most, both physically and mentally, and not when a small window of time opens up." that travel will be restricted again in late autumn and winter.

However, if the city leaders are considering bringing the Oktoberfest forward, Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) will listen to them.

The "Bild" quotes the minister as saying that the Corona situation * will be much more relaxed in the summer.

"It is therefore seriously to consider moving parties with larger gatherings more into the summer." Economics officer and Wiesn boss Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) said on Tuesday that a working group of the city council groups will meet next week to sound out the arguments.

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