"Incredible cheek": Frustration with the G7 summit in the citizen talk "Now red i" - Herrmann refers to Scholz
Created: 06/22/2022, 22:50
By: Felix Herz
The preparations for the G7 summit are massive - and the citizens of the region are suffering.
© Angelika Warmuth/dpa
The talk show "jetzt red i" invited citizens and politicians to talk about the G7 summit in Elmau.
It became clear that the residents are frustrated.
Munich/Elmau – It is the dominant topic these days: the G7 summit in Elmau.
A heavy burden for politicians, the security forces, reporting - but also for the region itself. Apart from the press conferences and political discussions, however, the local residents tend to have less of a say.
There was now a G7 edition of the BR talk show "jetzt red i" on Wednesday evening, June 22nd.
Citizens from the organizing region were invited, as well as the Bavarian Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann (CSU) and Bavarian state parliamentarian Katharina Schulze, leader of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the state parliament.
G7 summit in Elmau: Clear citizen frustration about loss of income
The statements made by the citizens present expressed one thing above all: understanding for the fundamental holding of such a summit meeting of the most powerful politicians, but a lack of understanding for where and how.
An exciting topic: collapsing income from local shops.
The owner of an ice hockey shop complains about the ice hockey stadium, which has been closed since mid-February.
The landlady of a restaurant on the grounds of the ski stadium, where the police are housed, suffers financial losses of 40 percent.
Elisabeth Koch, Mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and sitting among the spectators, calls it unreasonable to host the G7 summit in the region, but also calls for pragmatic thinking: you would have "negotiated skilfully" and would be happy about money, that flows into environmental protection and infrastructure.
Why in Elmau?
Herrmann understands the question – and refers to the government
But the local residents are not only suffering financially.
Preparations have been going on for months, police officers are on the move with submachine guns, 16 kilometers of fences have been erected, and many roadblocks are obstructing traffic.
Again and again the viewers emphasized that they basically understand the need for the summit meeting, but not why in their small and unsuitable region of all places.
Herrmann shows understanding for the frustration of the citizens, but refers to the federal government.
He doesn't want to "push everything on to the federal government", but seven years ago the Chancellor would have invited, and this year the Chancellor.
Neither he nor Schulze would have decided that.
You can find more current news from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at Merkur.de/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
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It becomes emotional when a father of two children speaks.
He cannot understand how after two years of the corona pandemic with numerous restrictions on leisure time for children, they can be allowed to suffer again.
"I cannot understand why children are not taken into account at all." The reason for his frustration is the distance learning for the students and the fact that "almost all sports facilities" are closed.
They could not practice their sport anywhere, gymnasiums were occupied "and so on".
That was an "incredible cheek," he says, visibly touched.
Here Herrmann shows himself to be unreasonable and counterattacks.
He could not imagine that all sports facilities in the region would be closed.
He also points out that they had held a citizens' meeting twice - but the subject of sports fields had not been brought up there, nor by e-mail or letter to him.
G7 summit in Elmau: demonstrator among spectators - serious allegations
Another request to speak belongs to a protester.
In contrast to the previous speakers, she cannot understand the organization of the G7 summit itself.
It is the meeting of imperialist states, which is only about capitalist planning and optimizing the starting position of large companies.
The meeting did not yield any results, she cited the failure to reach the 1.5 degree target as an example.
She also complains that the right to assembly is being restricted and that it is making it much more difficult to carry out the demonstrations.
Here Herrmann reacts angrily.
Large demonstrations would take place, on Saturday in Munich, and on Sunday and Monday.
In addition, it is wonderful to philosophize about imperialism here.
"With all due respect: Whoever is the supreme imperialist at the moment is Mr. Putin in Moscow!
He started a war of aggression," said the interior minister.
The activist still wants to answer, but doesn't get another chance.
G7 summit in Elmau: Citizens demand an end
Various requests to speak are still being made to the two politicians to ensure that this summit meeting remains the last in the region for the time being.
Herrmann promises to remember the wish, Schulze becomes clearer.
The G7 summit in Elmau must not become a “permanent event”, they can absolutely understand the frustration.
"Twice is enough," she says and promises to pass it on.
"Now red i" has captured the mood of the region well thanks to many comments from citizens: there is frustration about the extremely long and intensive preparation time for the summit meeting - Herrmann refers here to the time window since the decision for the summit was only six months compared to 2015 the region – and the way it was implemented, which neglected the specifics of the region and the needs of local residents.
There would have been significantly more contributions – but the time is up.
It remains to be hoped that the wishes of the citizens will be heard and that the police, fence and burden will not return to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Elmau in 2029.
(fhz)
You can find more current news about the 2022 summit at Merkur.de/G7-Gipfel Elmau
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