Berlin’s Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger, advocates the possibility of a longer detention period for demonstrating climate activists. “In Berlin, a person can be taken into police custody for a maximum of 48 hours,” said the SPD politician on Tuesday on RBB Inforadio. She would welcome an extension. “But for that you would have to change the relevant law in the House of Representatives.” Spranger rejected a regulation like that in Bavaria. “I find 30 days constitutionally questionable,” she said.
The senator reported on 300 cases of detention demonstrations in Berlin so far. As a result of the protests on the streets or in museums, 2,000 criminal charges were issued. There are almost 800 processes at the public prosecutor’s office. In addition, almost 500 fee notices were issued.
At the same time, Spranger emphasized her understanding of the goals of the climate protests. “We don’t care about the topic at all. The topic is important to everyone,” she said. “But of course I have absolutely no understanding of how it’s done.”
For the “Last Generation” movement, one of the organizers, Theodor Schnarr, referred to the consequences of the climate catastrophe. “We’re talking about our society collapsing. That’s the alternative.” Longer detention would also be accepted for this. “We don’t like doing it,” Schnarr said on RBB Inforadio, “I’m a scientist. I’m married and would like to plan my family now.” Instead, he has to be on the streets of Berlin, “because the future of the children I would like to bring into the world is being gambled away with open eyes.”
Interview Spranger Interview Schnarr
