Climate adhesive: Reul does not rule out harsh accusations – and reprimands the head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for a “brisk saying”

Created: 2022-12-05 2:19 p.m

By: Florian Naumann

The "Last Generation" continues to protest.

A CDU state minister wants to examine the suspicion of a "criminal organization".

Düsseldorf/Munich - On Monday (December 5), the climate activists of the "last generation" kept Munich and the surrounding area in suspense.

The Munich member of the Bundestag Dieter Janecek (Greens) thanked in a tweet for the "very prudent use" of the police in the Bavarian capital.

Meanwhile, the Union is considering a tougher approach.

"The state cannot just look on and let it continue," said North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) shortly before the start of the actions in the morning on Deutschlandfunk.

The protests of the "last generation" are no longer about individual spontaneous acts: "Obviously there is a really tight organization, nationwide." In general, "a faster reaction" and "penalties that hurt," said Reul in the conversation.

A process "months later" is useless.

Climate protest also in Munich: "Close to the suspicion of a criminal organization"

Among the activists are some left-wing extremists "who say it's about much more than that, it's about overcoming the system".

But one cannot suspect everyone.

"There are a lot of people who have a normal, good concern," but "haven't quite understood that we have rules that you have to follow," said Reul.

The climate movement "Fridays for Future" is different, its supporters have generally complied with the statutory limits.

With the “last generation”, on the other hand, limits have been crossed.

"Responsibility stops full throttle" is the name of a project by the NRW government - climate activists Herbert Reul did not have in mind, but illegal car races.

© Henning Kaiser/dpa/picture-alliance

Last week, the conference of interior ministers agreed to draw up a situation report by April and thus learn more about the group.

From Reul's point of view, that's important.

With their organized approach, the group "comes close to being suspected of being a criminal organization."

Before you make such an announcement, you have to check carefully.

"Is it an attempt of coercion, or is it simply a political formation of will?" is another important question.

If they announce, for example: "We're going to take a week's break and on Monday we'll really get going again," then that's no longer a one-off act.

(...) Then it comes close to being suspected of being a criminal organization.

NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul wants to have the "last generation" examined in detail.

The CSU had recently repeatedly brought the "last generation" close to a development in the direction of a "climate RAF".

Former interior minister and CDU leader Wolfgang Schäuble disagreed in an interview with the

on Monday .

"I don't believe in such terms at all," he explained.

"But there's always a danger that if younger people aren't happy with the circumstances, they lose all measure," he added.

"Check first, then talk," emphasized Reul, referring to Dobrindt's statements.

Climate protests: "Brisk saying is not enough" - CDU minister reprimands Haldenwang

Moderate tones were recently struck by the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang.

He had said that he did not currently recognize that the group was directed against the free democratic basic order.

Therefore, she is not an object of observation for the protection of the constitution.

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Reul now criticized this on Deutschlandfunk.

"This brisk saying that he made there is not enough for me," said the state minister.

"His people have to look at the facts and say: Who is there, which people are they, what is their intention, is this an organization, is it strictly controlled?"

In recent months, the “Last Generation” group has repeatedly blocked roads, attacked works of art or temporarily paralyzed the capital’s BER airport in Berlin.

For the new week, the group has announced further and increased disruptive actions.

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