After New Year's Eve riots: Faeser speaks of integration problems and demands consequences

Created: 05/01/2023 05:20

By: Christina Denk

After the riots on New Year's Eve, Nancy Faeser spoke of major problems in major German cities.

The acts of violence should be punished consistently, but without stirring up prejudice.

Berlin – Flying firecrackers and fire extinguishers, injured emergency services and videos of violence on New Year's Eve.

Since the riots on New Year's Eve, including in Berlin, the debate in the Bundestag has been boiling.

Keywords such as bans on firecrackers, failed integration policies, racist stereotypes and punishment for rioters dominate the discussion.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has now admitted problems with integration.

Riots on New Year's Eve: Nancy Faeser speaks of major problems in major German cities

"We have a big problem in German cities with certain young men with a migration background who despise our state, commit acts of violence and are hardly reached with education and integration programs," Faeser told the newspapers of the Funke media group on Wednesday.

This would have to be followed by consequences - "with a hard hand and clear language - but without stirring up racist resentment," said Faeser.

Already on Monday, Faeser had called for penal provisions to be consistently enforced.

The suspects in Berlin have 18 different citizenships, among the 113 arrested there were 45 with German citizenship.

Green member of the Bundestag Canan Bayram complained at the beginning that the discussion about the attacks on New Year's Eve served "racist stereotypes".

Riots on New Year's Eve: Faeser wants to end the terrorizing of neighborhoods by violent criminals

After the riots on New Year's Eve, Faeser now called for a consistent police presence in hot spots.

The state shouldn't allow young violent criminals to terrorize their neighborhoods, said Faeser.

They “must face swift and significant criminal penalties.

The penalty must be on the spot.

That creates respect for our rule of law," said Faeser.

The entire neighborhood suffers from the violent criminals, says Faeser.

"In particular, many people with a history of migration - among them there is zero understanding for violence and riots," added the Interior Minister.

"We have a duty to protect them." Faeser did not think it necessary to tighten the penal regulations to protect police and rescue workers.

The measures have been significantly tightened in recent years.

Buses burned on New Year's Eve, but rescue workers were also the target of riots.

Nancy Faeser calls for consistent penalties.

© Paul Zinken/dpa

Baerbock also condemns the New Year's riots - but the police use a special unit

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also sharply condemned the attacks on Wednesday (January 4).

It is "of course without question that emergency services should never, with no justification, be attacked in any situation, hindered in their use," said the Green politician.

Not on a public holiday, and not on a normal working day either.

Berlin's mayor Giffey announced that she would like to invite to a summit against youth violence.

The cases are now being treated in a special police unit that "has special expertise in dynamic group violence," Berlin's Senator for Justice Lena Kreck (left) told the dpa.

The police are asking for the help of witnesses with photos and videos.