As of: January 29, 2024, 4:59 a.m
By: Felix Herz, Klaus-Maria Mehr
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The “Hand in Hand for our Country” demo began on Sunday at 12 noon on Munich’s Theresienwiese.
The criticism was primarily directed at the traffic lights.
The “Hand in Hand for our Country” alliance around a crane contractor from Bad Aibling is calling for a demonstration on Sunday (January 28th) in Munich.
All “farmers, medium-sized businesses, pensioners, craftsmen, mothers” are called upon to demonstrate together against the traffic lights.
The demo is aimed at the traffic light coalition in Berlin - and strongly criticizes their policies.
Update from January 28th, 3:26 p.m.:
According to the Munich police, the demo had around 10,000 participants at its peak.
There were over 300 vehicles on site.
More than 50 police forces secured the location.
As things stand, the demonstration went off without a hitch.
The Theresienwiese is now relatively empty again.
Dissatisfied Bavarians demonstrate on the Theresienwiese on Sunday.
Instead of the announced 30,000 to 50,000, around 7,000 participants gathered.
© Ehsan Monajati/dpa
Update from January 28th, 2:25 p.m.:
An organizer thanks the police, rescue workers and fire brigade for their support and closes the event.
The participants quickly disperse on the large Theresienwiese.
Update from January 28th, 2:15 p.m.:
The demo is slowly coming to an end.
The event was approved by 2 p.m.
The last speaker is currently at the podium.
He is neither left nor right and does not stand for any party, he says, but for children, for all entrepreneurs and workers.
He's not campaigning.
But: “We are the people.” And: “We are not alone.” What exactly the speakers and around 7,000 participants are demonstrating for remains somewhat unclear, even with the last speaker.
Unless you are suspicious, think the traffic light government is ideological and want politicians you can trust again.
Update from January 28th, 12:40 p.m
.: Significantly fewer people showed up for the anti-traffic light demo than the organizers registered.
Instead of the 30,000 to 40,000 people, there were only around 7,000 demonstrators on Theresienwiese when the protest started at 12 p.m.
This was confirmed by a police spokeswoman on site.
However, she added that a slight but steady influx could ensure that the number of participants increases slightly over the course of the event.
“Hand in hand for our country” – an anti-traffic light demonstration took place in Munich on Sunday afternoon.
© Felix Herz
“Are you fed up?” Speakers sharply criticize the traffic light policy
Meanwhile, the speakers on stage, who according to the organization reflect society at large, criticize the traffic light policy.
“Are you fed up?” shouts one of the speakers.
The demonstrators then chant “we are fed up”.
Previously, one of the organizers had reminded people that they were neither right nor left - to which the demonstrators responded with applause.
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Update from January 28th, 11:55 a.m
.: The photos of the press people on site are the “most important message” after the speakers, the organizer announced on stage.
Therefore, people should move up and down.
This would make it easier for them to spread through social media and the number of protesters would grow.
Some of the demonstrators have signs with them, others carry Germany and Bavaria flags.
It will start soon.
Update from January 28th, 11:50 a.m
.: The “Hand in Hand for our Country” demonstration will begin on Theresienwiese in a few minutes.
People have already gathered in front of the stage near the Bavaria.
First report, Sunday, January 28th, 7:33 a.m.:
A large demonstration against the traffic lights is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. on Theresienwiese.
We are monitoring the situation live on Sunday.
Below are the most important questions and answers.
Traffic light opponents gather under the Bavaria.
Here is a scene from the truck demo on Friday, January 12th.
© Wolfgang Maria Weber/Imago
How many participants are planned?
A good two weeks ago, around 2,000 trucks rolled up to the historic Theresienwiese to demonstrate against the traffic lights, albeit with a clear distance from the farmers' "nonsense".
A new alliance led by Markus Huber, a 37-year-old crane contractor from Bad Aibling, wants to surpass this.
30,000 to 50,000 participants
are registered with the KVR.
However, the police assume there will be significantly fewer participants.
Are there traffic jams in Munich again?
Traffic chaos, such as during the truck demo, is less likely.
The participants are explicitly asked to leave their tractors, trucks and other commercial vehicles at home and to travel with self-organized
buses or public transport
from all over Bavaria.
Anyone planning the latter should be reminded: The S-Bahn hardly or not at all runs because the GDL strike, despite the fact that it has now ended prematurely, will last the whole Sunday.
New arrivals could cost organizers participants
It remains to be seen whether the travel solution will be so well received.
The ability to comfortably drive to the demonstration in your own car was somewhat the unique selling point of these anti-traffic light events.
However, the organizers' ulterior motive is to significantly expand the circle of participants.
Who comes?
Not only farmers and haulage companies are explicitly invited, but also “the tax-paying middle class of society and pensioners”, or as organizer Huber says elsewhere: all “farmers, medium-sized businesses, pensioners, craftsmen, mothers.” The demo has a bit of an effect. Call like a counter-test to the brilliant democracy demo with around 200,000 participants last weekend in Munich.
Even if the organizers renounce all right-wing and left-wing influences.
Oh well: Hubert Aiwanger is of course also there.
What is it about?
Above all, the initiators apparently want to express their fundamental dissatisfaction with the traffic light policy - and show how many people in Bavaria feel the same way.
Their points of criticism include the abolition of agricultural diesel subsidies, toll increases in transport, CO₂ taxes and the increase in VAT in the catering industry that has already been implemented.
But topics such as affordable housing, combating poverty in old age and reducing bureaucracy should also be discussed.