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Protest posters before the Green Party's political Ash Wednesday in Biberach
Photo: David Nau/dpa
Due to massive farmers' protests, the Greens have canceled their political Ash Wednesday rally in Biberach. The mood at the demonstrations was aggressive, said Michael Gross, chairman of the Biberach district association. Demonstrators gathered in front of the town hall, some of whom appeared “verbally aggressive”. “We don’t see that we can hold a proper event,” Gross continued. “I just hope that after this Ash Wednesday we can get back to a constructive dialogue.”
In the run-up to the event, there were massive protests and blockades by farmers, among others, where the police also used pepper spray. According to its own information, the state farmers' association in Baden-Württemberg did not call for the protests or support them in advance.
Farmers in Biberach had been protesting and blocking roads since the morning. Dozens of tractors were parked on the access roads to the town hall. A large pile of dung was dumped in front of the hall. Loud horns and music could be heard.
Pepper spray and a broken window
The protests also included an incident in which police used pepper spray on demonstrators to clear the path for two vehicles. The two vehicles then drove away from the town hall. A window on a vehicle was smashed. Protesters had previously blocked the street with paving stones and sandbags.
The board of the district farmers' association, Karl Endriß, said that there was no access to the town hall because there were demonstrators everywhere. According to Endriß, various groups had called for the protests. The demonstrators are mainly farmers, but haulage companies are also involved.
Schwelling criticizes demonstration methods
Green Party leader Lena Schwelling criticized the demonstrators' methods. »Nobody in front of the hall is willing to have a dialogue. It's just a matter of preventing the event - using methods that are beyond the limit," said Schwelling. For example, it is problematic if car windows are broken.
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 Cem 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.
Özdemir spoke to participants in the farmers' demonstration "and sought dialogue," explained a spokeswoman for the Baden-Württemberg Green Party. "We have already made offers to talk in advance of the event and will continue the exchange in small groups." The party also wants to conduct a dialogue in the future "with all those who are interested in a constructive exchange." Özdemir has been the target of sharp criticism from farmers' associations for weeks. The reason is the federal government's planned reduction in agricultural subsidies.
SPD speaks of “No-Go”
The SPD also vehemently criticized the demonstrators' actions. "The fact that we have to find out in these minutes that the event had to be canceled due to the aggressive mood at demonstrations surrounding the Green Party's Political Ash Wednesday is an absolute no-go," said the Baden-Württemberg SPD state chairman Andreas Stoch.
»Dissent is part of our democracy, as is discussion. Only those who have no arguments throw stones. This is the language of those who disregard our democratic principles. We have to take a decisive stand against this,” added Stoch.
eru/col/cte/dpa/AFP