As of: January 29, 2024, 7:20 p.m
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Demonstrators at a protest called for by the Brandenburg SME Initiative.
© Frank Hammerschmidt/dpa
An initiative of medium-sized companies demonstrated in Cottbus on Friday against the traffic light government's policy in Berlin.
Craftsmen and other entrepreneurs came with whistles and protest posters, and farmers also came with tractors.
Demonstrators shouted “The traffic lights have to go”.
Cottbus - Brandenburg's Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) spoke at the rally in the old town and represented the positions of the state government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for southern Brandenburg.
They distanced themselves from the demonstration and warned against radicalization of protests.
Around 2,500 participants were registered.
When asked on Friday, the police did not provide any information about the number of demonstrators.
The organizer said he expected 3,500 to 4,000 participants.
The Brandenburg medium-sized business initiative called “We all together.
Uprising against idiocy and ideology” at the rally.
According to its spokesman, the organization is calling for the federal government to resign.
The initiative had already organized a rally through Cottbus around two and a half weeks ago.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for southern Brandenburg had emphasized that it would not take part in the demonstration as a partner.
The task of the IHK as an organization and corporation under public law is to reflect the overall interests of the economy, said managing director Wolfgang Krüger on Thursday.
A “one-sided partisanship”, for example as a co-organizer who adopts the demands of the initiative with around 400 members, is out of the question.
The IHK Cottbus includes around 35,000 companies from industry, trade, hospitality, services and transport.
dpa