When US President Joe Biden got off Air Force One on his way to the G7 summit, one of the first people he saw on Bavarian soil was Martin Haberfellner (70).
The Kochler is governor of the Bavarian Mountain Riflemen.
Kochel am See – As is well known, the mountain riflemen were ready to receive the heads of state at Munich Airport.
But there was also criticism: Germany is being reduced to alleged “folklore”, it was said.
Haberfellner, who was there on Friday to welcome Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron at Munich Airport and the day after at a reception for the heads of state of other nations such as India, South Africa and Senegal, explains in the Kurier interview why the greeting had the right form from his point of view.
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Martin Haberfellner and Markus Söder.
© Instagram Markus Söder
Mr. Haberfellner, what do you say to the criticism that the G7 heads of state were received by mountain riflemen and people wearing traditional costumes?
This criticism is not aimed at the participants from the traditional costume clubs and from the mountain riflemen, but against Bavaria, because from the point of view of the critics, it cooks up an extra sausage.
It says: 'What does Bavaria have to do with it, this is an event of the Federal Republic of Germany.'
If someone from Hamburg, Hanover or Lower Franconia says that they don't feel represented by the mountain riflemen, I even understand that.
But for many it's just about moaning.
Does the criticism annoy you?
I can take it.
That was always the case when Bavaria welcomed guests on behalf of the federal government.
In this case, too, the reception at the airport was organized by the Bavarian State Chancellery on behalf of the Federal Chancellery.
If you appear in public, you have to expect that you will also encounter opposition.
As long as there is someone who gets upset, at least you will still be noticed.
Why are mountain riflemen used on such an occasion?
The tradition that the mountain riflemen represent the Free State goes back 150 years.
Until 1870 the mountain riflemen were part of the army, they were called the National Guard Third Class.
The supreme commander was Duke Max in Bavaria for 30 years.
Only when Bavaria was incorporated into the Kleindeutsche Reich did they want to adapt the Bavarian army structure to the Prussian one and it was said that the mountain riflemen didn't fit in there.
The mountain riflemen should be disbanded.
But especially among the Isarwinklers, also in Benediktbeuern, this caused an internal revolution.
They said: 'The defense mission can be withdrawn from us, but we existed before and we are being passed on.'
From 1870 onwards, the mountain riflemen were called to patriotic festivals, such as the Wittelsbach family festivals.
And how does that fit into the Federal Republic?
Prime Ministers Goppel and Strauss saw the role of the mountain riflemen as representing Bavaria's own state tradition.
Berlin says yes, Bavaria is a province of Germany.
Bavaria says: We have a state tradition that goes back longer than in almost any other European country.
This friction has existed since the founding of the Federal Republic.
Since the 1950s and 1960s, the mountain guards have had close ties to the governments in the Free State and to their protocol departments and are always deployed when there is a need to demonstrate statehood.
In 1962 the mountain riflemen received de Gaulle at the Odeonsplatz and in 1965 Queen Elisabeth.
Whether that suits individual people or not, we cannot take that into account.
And why are the Trachtlers there too?
Deputations from the traditional costume associations have gradually been added.
They represent the social aspect.
Many people organize themselves in traditional costume associations.
They also wear traditional costumes in everyday life and are therefore suitable for embodying the Bavarian culture.
Of course, the state and society do not only consist of mountain riflemen and traditional costume clubs.
Of course we could also put the Bund Naturschutz on the gangway.
But there are also nature conservationists among us mountain archers, just like all other social groups.
Which heads of state have you already received?
The three highlights were the World Economic Summit in Munich in 1992, the G7 Summit in 2015 and the current G7 Summit.
In the meantime, however, we have also received many others, for example Queen Margrethe of Denmark a few months ago or Prince Charles three years ago.
Also Emperor Akihito from Japan - and we have already received Putin.
He was extremely happy when the shots were fired in the air.
And how did the heads of state react to the mountain riflemen this time?
It is an old experience that there are nations that generally react positively to something like this.
And then there are people whose nature is such that you don't notice them moving.
Mitterand was one of those, or Roman Herzog.
I have now seen three of the American presidents.
The most euphoric was George Bush, who immediately thanked everyone.
Joe Biden immediately had a smile on his face.
On Sunday in the residence, the heads of state from Senegal and South Africa were initially irritated, then their smiles grew wider and wider.
The Indian President bowed to us with great respect, hands folded.
And French President Macron?
Macron also put on a friendly face but was more concerned with Söder.
I think that Mr. Macron liked it too, because the French celebrate their statehood in a very traditional way.
By the way: All heads of state were asked beforehand whether they wanted to be received in this way.
It's not like we ambushed them with a Mashkera squad.
They knew what was in store for them and they wanted it that way.
Boris Johnson, for example, did not want a reception at the airport.
He just came and was there.
Neither does Olaf Scholz – he is also the host at the summit.
In summary, do you support the reception of foreign state guests by mountain riflemen and traditional costumers?
The Bavarian says: If we're in Bavaria, we should show it.
I personally think that is correct.
We want to be who we are.
When we give that up, we are no longer who we are.
You can find even more current news from the region around at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.