Ahead of planned youth protests in several German cities this weekend, opposition politicians are underscoring the legitimate concerns of young people and demanding greater democratic participation. Britta Haßelmann, the Green party’s parliamentary group chair, told the “Rheinische Post” that young people deserve the right to be heard and to take to the streets peacefully for their future. Her focus is on practical issues facing children, adolescents, and young adults: well-equipped schools, fair educational opportunities, affordable housing, and effective climate protection that secures their livelihoods.
The Greens politician also called for “greater democratic participation,” specifically mentioning the need to finally include the age of 16 in Bundestag elections. Haßelmann emphasized that the perspectives of young people are relevant and should not be ignored. “Any attempt to instrumentalize their concerns for political purposes is something we reject strongly,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Clara Bünger, the spokesperson for the Left party on domestic affairs, sharply criticized Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). Bünger accused the minister of outrageous behavior by placing young people, who were exercising their democratic right to protest, under general suspicion and criminalization.
She drew a comparison, noting that when members of the Union take to the streets, the government regularly assures them that their worries will be taken seriously and heard. However, when young people protest against social injustice, they are suddenly branded as security risks. Bünger insists that specific dangers must certainly be addressed, but anyone who speaks of “extremist infiltration” or “foreign influence” must present credible evidence. Instead of criminalizing young citizens, the Left politician argues that the federal government must finally take their concerns seriously.
