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Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP): "It is unacceptable that one commits crimes in order to enforce one's political goals"

Photo: Lando Hass / dpa

It was just color. However, the cleaning of the property damage has been going on for days: On Sunday, activists of the "Last Generation" had smeared the columns of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin with warning paint. In view of the paint attack, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) has now warned of a further radicalization of the climate protection movement.

"I find it unacceptable that one commits crimes in order to enforce one's political goals," said the FDP politician of the "Augsburger Allgemeine". For some groups, the protests are now taking on forms of terror, including sabotage attacks on the railway infrastructure," the minister said. We can only speak of happiness if people do not suffer any physical harm in the process," he emphasized.

Wissing condemned the color of the "last generation": "I have no understanding for this form of protest, because I think that we have to discuss in society, exchange arguments and in the end the better arguments have to prevail."

»Conversations are in no way a legitimation of protest«

The minister referred to his talks with representatives of the protest group. "I think dialogue is fundamentally right and important," Wissing said. "Among other things, we talked about the price of the Deutschlandticket at the time," he reported. "But to make it clear once again: Talks are in no way a legitimation of the protest," the FDP politician emphasized.

During the protest action of the »Last Generation«, all six columns of the world-famous Brandenburg Gate – some of them up to a height of several meters – were covered with yellow and orange paint. According to police, 14 people were arrested. Investigations had been started for damage to property that was harmful to the public.

The cleaning started on Sunday. By the time of the marathon at the weekend, the color pigments should be completely removed from the sandstone and the gate should be clean again, according to the authorities.

mrc/AFP