2024-02-17 13:21:24
The Greens in Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, actually want to have a pointed debate at their political Ash Wednesday. But because a protest escalated in front of the hall, this didn’t happen.
Deafening noise, dozens of honking tractors and an angry crowd: Before the Greens’ political Ash Wednesday in Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, there were massive protests and blockades, including by farmers – and a little later the event was canceled with Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir. The reason: security concerns.
The Greens have been meeting in Biberach for years, where a lot of federal celebrities were expected again this year. In addition to Agriculture Minister Özdemir, who is considered a promising candidate to succeed Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann, Federal Chairwoman Ricarda Lang and veteran Jürgen Trittin should take the lectern. Kretschmann should also be there. Except for Trittin, the guests hadn’t even gotten through to the hall.
Pepper spray and batons
Farmers, among others, had been protesting and blocking roads since the morning. The police said they used pepper spray and batons to clear the path for two vehicles. A window on a vehicle was smashed. Protesters had previously blocked the street with paving stones and sandbags. According to police, several officers were injured and at least one person was arrested.
The chairman of the Biberach Green District Association, Michael Gross, justified the short-term cancellation of the political Ash Wednesday with the aggressive mood at demonstrations surrounding the event.
“Get off, get off”
According to their own information, the state farmers’ association in Baden-Württemberg and the Biberach district farmers’ association have not called for the protests. According to the latter, various groups were responsible. Accordingly, farmers were mainly involved, but also hauliers.
According to the police, the protests were not registered. A spokesman also had no information about possible extremist forces among them. Farmers had dumped a pile of dung in front of the stairs to the hall, with Green Party election posters on it, which the demonstrators labeled with “empty promises”. The crowd kept chanting “Get off, get off” in the direction of the hall. Journalists were insulted as the “lying press”. Flags of the Kingdom of Prussia were also on display.
Özdemir later defended farmers. “Those who have now gone overboard are not German agriculture. They were individuals who behaved like that,” says the Green politician after a previously planned conversation with representatives of farmers’ associations. The demonstrators would have done agriculture and agricultural concerns a disservice.
Criticism also from the CDU
Criticism also came from the Green Party state leader Lena Schwelling. “Nobody is willing to have a dialogue in front of the hall. It’s just about preventing the event – using methods that are beyond the limit,” said Schwelling shortly after the event was canceled. Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) wrote on SPD state leader Andreas Stoch called the cancellation in Biberach an absolute no-go.
CDU state leader Manuel Hagel also called on farmers to protest peacefully. “The fact that the Greens’ political Ash Wednesday in Biberach could not take place today as planned is unacceptable,” said Hagel in Fellbach, Baden-Württemberg. The dissatisfaction of farmers, craftsmen and logisticians with the federal government is legitimate, but he qualified: “When it comes to protests, moderation always applies.”
Farmers across Germany have been protesting for weeks against the federal government’s austerity plans, particularly against the planned cuts in agricultural diesel. During a protest at the beginning of January, farmers prevented Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) from leaving a ferry after he returned from a private trip to Hallig Hooge. According to the shipping company, the ship was almost stormed.