2024-09-10 06:30:23
During a visit to Essen, Free Voters leader Hubert Aiwanger criticised “open parallel societies”. The state must take tougher action.
The head of the Free Voters and Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger criticized “open parallel societies” during a visit to the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Essen. His visit was a “small culture shock,” but he was able to cope with it, Aiwanger said on Friday. After all, this is not the first time he has traveled outside Bavaria. “But yes – here in Essen you can see open parallel societies and what happens when the public sector does not take action,” said Aiwanger. “That would not happen here in Bavaria.”
He criticizes that things should never have come to this. That is what we can learn from Bavaria. “Once the damage has been done, it is difficult to turn back the screw,” said Aiwanger.
The Free Voters politician also criticized the traffic light government’s legalization of cannabis. “We have to take the issue of drugs more seriously at all levels.” Cannabis legalization is a “catastrophe.” Even if someone walks around with 25 grams of packaged cannabis that is obviously not intended for personal consumption, they will not be caught, said Aiwanger.
Restaurateur about Aiwanger: “No Bavarian farmer from the village needs to explain to me what is going on here”
Even before Aiwanger arrived, his visit caused a stir. Originally, after a tour of Essen’s city center, a discussion on security policy with the deputy federal chairman of the German Police Union, Manuel Ostermann, was supposed to take place in the “Der Löwe” restaurant on Kopstadtplatz. However, owner Lars Becker had canceled the reservation.
He wanted to “move as far away from the fringes as possible,” he told the “WAZ”. And he continued: “I live and work in the city center of Essen, and no Bavarian farmer from the village needs to explain to me what’s going on here.” The event was held instead in the Select Hotel at the main train station.
On Monday, Aiwanger had already attacked the immigration policy of the traffic light government at the Gillamoos political brunch and called for a stricter deportation policy. “We cannot continue like this, otherwise Germany will be ruined,” he shouted to the cheers of his supporters. Aiwanger is repeatedly criticized for his choice of words.