Day of German Unity: Police prepare for energy demos – Greens explain Eastern phenomenon
Created: 03/10/2022 06:18
By: Marcus Giebel
Against pretty much everything: "The III.
Weg" is one of the extreme parties that are currently calling for demos.
(Scene from Plauen) © IMAGO / Bernd March
Corona, war, inflation: Various protest marches are also planned on German Unity Day - especially in the new federal states.
Munich – The eyes should be directed to Erfurt on this day of German unity.
The official celebrations reach their climax in Thuringia's capital.
A speech by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas is planned.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (all SPD) have also been invited.
As the MDR reports, 2000 police officers are to ensure the security of the event.
In various other cities - especially in the new federal states - the law enforcement officers will have to prepare for a lot of work on the official holiday marking reunification 32 years ago.
Because numerous demonstrations have been registered that are aimed at energy policy, sanctions against Russia, arms deliveries to Ukraine in the wake of the war or measures in the corona pandemic.
Day of German Unity: Many demos expected in East Germany
It could be a first indication of how uncomfortable the cold months advertised by the protest planners as "hot autumn" and "angry winter" can be.
Even if many protesters want to bring their concerns to the public peacefully.
Rallies have been announced in Berlin, Leipzig, Gera, Plauen, Magdeburg, Chemnitz, Halle or Oschersleben.
For example, the AfD, the “Free Saxony”, which is classified as right-wing extremist, called the “Chemnitz Stands Up” alliance, the “Oschersleben Wolves”, the small right-wing extremist party “Der III.
Weg", the "Craftsmen for Peace" or the citizens' initiative "Movement Halle".
It remains to be seen how large the influx will be.
According to the police, fewer than 250 people are registered for most demos in Berlin.
An exception is the "Heating, Bread and Peace" protest march, in which 1,000 participants are expected, as
rbb24 writes
, citing the police.
Many previous demos also had to struggle with a rather small number of people.
Video: Day of German Unity - background and facts about reunification
Demos in Germany: Linke boss relies on “greatly increased bills for gas and electricity”
According to the ARD “Tagesschau”, according to the Magdeburg protest researcher David Begrich from the “Miteinander” association, a “protest core” is currently taking to the streets in eastern Germany.
But, among other things, Linke boss Martin Schirdewan said in an interview with the dpa: "We are only at the beginning of mobilization." He is convinced: "There is still a lot to come.
In the next few weeks, many will receive greatly increased advance bills for gas and electricity.
That affects millions of people. ”Like the AfD, the left is also looking for the dissatisfied in these times, who feel left behind and, in the worst case, left alone.
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(Scene from Schwerin) © IMAGO / SNA
Demos on the Day of German Unity: the Office for the Protection of the Constitution expects more and more protests
According to media reports, the Federal Criminal Police Office is also expecting an increase in demos.
Dirk-Martin Christian, head of the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution, warned in the
Leipziger Volkszeitung
: "We have to prepare for this scenario." He outlines how some groups are taking advantage of the crisis: "The legitimate concerns and needs of the citizens only serve the right-wing extremists as a vehicle for their anti-constitutional agenda.”
The Greens politician Paula Piechotta, who comes from Gera, explains to the dpa that the citizens in East Germany seem to take to the streets more quickly: "Basically, the high energy prices and the overall inflation naturally affect everyone nationwide, but there are fewer assets in the East, a higher proportion of small businesses with fewer reserves and lower incomes.”
According to the doctor of radiology, the statistically proven greater dissatisfaction in the new federal states also has something to do with the experiences of the past: "The impression of some in the East is, and you don't have to share that, that they pulled the arse card twice, in 1945 and in the 90s, each with more traumatizing upheavals than in West Germany."
(mg)
