Lindner talks about “Last Generation” in a rage – then ex-Federal President straddles in between
Created: 12/15/2022 11:19 am
By: Stephanie Munk
In his current podcast, FDP leader Christian Lindner accuses the “Last Generation” of an “authoritarian social model”.
His interlocutor, ex-Federal President Gauck, has objections.
Berlin – FDP leader Christian Lindner has had his own podcast for a few weeks.
It's called "CL+" and Lindner invites one person to talk to from politics, business, culture or sport.
In the current podcast episode from Thursday (December 15), the Minister of Finance speaks to ex-Federal President Joachim Gauck (independent).
From the topic of culture of debate, the two quickly come to the protests of the "last generation" - and Lindner talks himself into a rage.
FDP leader Christian Lindner goes against the grain of the climate glue protests of the "last generation".
© Mauersberger/Imago
Lindner calls "last generation" protests "extremely dangerous"
Lindner calls the forms of protest of the "last generation" in the podcast "extremely dangerous" because they would prepare the ground for a "relativization of democracy".
The activists' disruptive actions are a "form of self-empowerment and self-aggrandizement," argues the FDP leader.
One's own concern - climate protection - is declared the most important and a "group of initiates" tell everyone else "what is good and right." Ultimately, such an attitude leads to an "authoritarian social model," Lindner railed.
Ex-Federal President Gauck does not want to leave it that way.
"Now take this one example," he says after Lindner's climate adhesive billing.
“But we also have much more drastic examples.
This is the movement of right-wing people who pretend 'We are the people' on the street and as if they have to oppose democratic society.”
Gauck sees climate adhesive protests calmly: "It's hype now"
Gauck believes that the joint protests by left-wingers, right-wingers and lateral thinkers would promote the relativization of democracy much more than the climate activists.
"This is a stronger questioning, this movement, than what we have from this form of protest with the climate stickers." will subside, that's just a hype right now."
However, Gauck agrees with Lindner that the actions of the "last generation" should not undermine existing law, otherwise acceptance of rules in society would generally decrease, "and that would not be good".
That's why he thinks it's important that the police and prosecutors react "with orderly procedures" when climate activists break the rules.
The police and judiciary recently did this with a major raid on eleven activists from the "last generation".
Joachim Gauck discussed with Lindner in his podcast.
The theologian was Federal President from 2012 to 2017.
© IMAGO/Rolf Poss
Lindner podcast on "Last Generation": Gauck "can sometimes tolerate roadblocks"
Basically, Gauck also showed sympathy for the climate movement.
“When it comes to forms of protest that clearly point to a neglected topic, I understand that.
I can sometimes tolerate road blockades."
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But as a "permanent institution" he finds it "totally strategically wrong to choose a form of protest that angers the majority of citizens against the protesters and thus possibly also against their concerns".
In the case of the "Last Generation" that is the case - and for him that is a big difference to "Fridays for Future".
An IPPEN.MEDIA editor wanted to know how radical the climate activists of the "last generation" really are and took part in their recruitment seminar.
Activists of the “Last Generation” block the Stachus in Munich on December 5th.
© IMAGO/mufkinnphotos
"Last Generation" sticks to streets and soils artworks
For about a year now, the activists of the "last generation" have been trying to achieve a radical climate change with disruptive actions: they block airports and ministries, soil famous works of art with mashed potatoes or tomato sauce, or stick themselves to streets to create traffic jams and chaos.
Their demands include 100 km/h on the autobahn, a nine-euro ticket and turning away from oil, gas and coal.
You can read here how the group finances its actions and, above all, the mass fines and what role a powerful US fund plays in this.
(smu)