Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - North Rhine-Westphalia's Economics and Climate Protection Minister Mona Neubaur (Greens) wants to de-escalate the conflict over the lignite village of Lützerath, which is occupied by activists. However, she is not currently planning a visit to the hamlet on the edge of the opencast mine in the Rhenish mining area, Neubaur told journalists on Monday evening.
Lützerath near Erkelenz is to be dredged for coal extraction. Activists who want to fight for the place live in the houses whose former residents have moved away. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the village is expected to be evacuated in January. On Monday, the police got a picture of the situation in Lützerath.
"It will be a challenging time," said Neubaur, who, as a former Green party leader, had gone to Lützerath herself. "This will be a time when I will do my utmost to de-escalate wherever possible."
