The railway and transport union (EVG) has criticized the plans of Federal Minister of Justice, Stefanie Hubig (SPD), to decriminalize fare evasion. Ralf Damde, the chief works council chairman for DB Regio, stated to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that “fare evasion is no minor offense. Those who secure benefits at the expense of others must also stand up for that”. He argued that decriminalization is a completely wrong signal, especially following the fatal violent attack perpetrated by a fare evader against a Deutsche Bahn train attendant in early February. According to Damde, the state should be supporting those who enforce order and safety in public transport, “and not those who exploit the system”. He reported receiving dozens of messages from disappointed and outraged employees of the regional subsidiary that, according to him, are particularly vulnerable to verbal or physical assaults. “They ask themselves: Why am I even doing this job if such things are what politics suggests” he recounted. While Damde is an SPD member, he expressed profound difficulty in understanding his own party. He commented, “I have the feeling that social democracy no longer perceives the living reality of people out there”. Furthermore, he asserted that the situation in local and regional transport remains critical, and reduced penalties would change nothing about that. He concluded by stating that “Ms. Hubig urgently needs to leave the Berlin bubble”.
Politics
