Echo of the raid on the last generation: “When will the raid on Lindner come?”

In the network, reactions to the searches of the last generations are divided. The German police union supports the procedure.

Raid on Last Generation in Berlin Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa

BERLIN taz | After the nationwide searches of activists of the last generation on Wednesday morning, the first political decision-makers are reacting. Left vice leader Lorenz Gösta Beutin described the raid in a statement as “completely exaggerated”. The last generation relies “on peaceful civil disobedience to draw attention to the climate catastrophe and the failure of the federal government”. The left-wing politician asks himself: “When will the raid on Messrs. Lindner and Wissing take place and on all those who ignore the judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court of 2021 by braking on climate protection?”

On behalf of the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office, a total of 15 objects in seven federal states were examined to find clues and evidence of criminal offenses by the last generation. It was determined on suspicion of a criminal organization. Four of these searches took place in Berlin, three each in Bavaria and Hesse. In addition, accounts were confiscated and assets secured.

The searches by the German police union were welcomed: “The judiciary is taking action, that is the right signal from a well-fortified constitutional state,” said Federal Chairman Rainer Wendt. “The population, who suffer thousands of times a day from the street terror of these self-proclaimed climate saviors, is finally being perceived as the actual victims of these criminals.”

The Berlin Senator for Justice Felor Badenberg (independent) is meanwhile also examining whether the last generation can be classified as a criminal organization. “Here, other people are forced into legal violence every day,” she said about the blockades on the Berlin-Brandenburg radio station.

Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) wrote on Twitter: “Climate protection is a real and urgent concern. Climate protection against the rule of law, but not democracy and the population.”

Discussions on Twitter

The search of the activists is also being discussed intensively on Twitter. “You really try to do everything humanly possible to portray a peaceful movement like the last generation as the biggest criminals in the country. Is it all so immensely absurd, ”comments one person.

Other users complain that right-wing extremists in Germany are less severely cracked down on. For example, when blocking the website of the last generation, which took place in the course of the investigation, a user draws a comparison with the website of the right-wing extremist micro-party “III. way”, which remains available.

In a video statement, climate activist Tadzio Müller addresses the confiscation of accounts from the last generation. He calls this an “economist attack” on the last generation: “Germany knows it’s not ok to collect money for unfair purposes (eg RWE’s profits) & to break the law. This guilt is then projected onto the last generation,” writes Müller. The Last Generation tweeted: “Search lobby structures and confiscate government fossil funds – when?”

Also favorable comments

In addition to statements of solidarity and outrage about the searches, there are also some comments in favor of the actions of the Munich Attorney General on the Internet. The climate activists of the last generation regularly experience hostilities and violence during their road blockades. The anger at the chosen form of protest is also reflected in the comment columns.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously criticized the actions of the last generation on Monday. Speaking to schoolchildren in Brandenburg, he said he found it “totally insane to be stuck to a picture in any way or on the street.” In response to this statement, Last Generation activists sprayed the facade of the Willy- Brandt House in Berlin with paint. (with afp)