With their disruptive actions, the "last generation" did not start a climate debate, but a democracy debate - and it is being conducted mercilessly by parts of politics and the media. The activists have long been stuck in the legitimacy trap, from which they find it difficult to get out.
They don't want to win a sympathy contest, the "Last Generation" activists say, shrugging their shoulders when asked about the sheer hatred they are met with. The realization is frightening enough: Anyone who sticks themselves to the street or throws mashed potatoes at a glass work of art must expect death threats in Germany - or that friends and family will be bothered. They are young people, students in their twenties, who have to fear for their lives because they block road junctions, freeways or runways to protest against current climate policies.
The activists are certain that politics and the media have played their part in the fact that the debate has moved away from the core of the protests. This attitude is not entirely unreasonable. The "Bild" newspaper spoke of extremists who despise democracy. CSU regional group chief Alexander Dobrindt predicted that the "last generation" was on the way to the "climate RAF". And the AfD continued to knit the narrative of a "danger to state and society" with relish in a current hour in the Bundestag in the afternoon. On the open stage, climate activists were stylized as enemies of the state, for which none of the penalties previously provided for in the rule of law were severe enough.
"Violence as a means of political disputes has no place in a democracy," explained FDP Justice Minister Marco Buschmann - and by that he expressly does not mean passers-by who attack the blockers with fists and kicks, but the activists themselves, who continue to see non-violence as state their creed. The political debate is conducted as if the protest group had long since become radicalized. This is a problem for the "Last Generation". Not only because their demands - including a speed limit on motorways and the nationwide introduction of the 9-euro ticket - are drowned out by the angry screams of the tens of thousands of art fans who have suddenly sprung out of the ground.
The main problem is that instead of discussing climate protection goals, the discussion is about whether the judiciary has the right means to punish such disruptive actions. The proposal to extend preventive detention, which was previously only permitted in Bavaria, to the entire federal territory is only convenient for the most vehement critics of the "last generation". But the measure is not without reason highly controversial in Bavaria. It was originally intended to be applied only to potential terrorists. Now she prevents road blockades instead of terrorist attacks. The frivolity with which the barriers to political imprisonment in Bavaria were lowered within a very short time should not only cause concern for climate activists.
Without wanting to, the actions of the "last generation" did not initiate a climate debate, but a debate on democracy. It is dangerous for a democracy when politicians give the impression that it is perfect, criticized co-founder Lea Bonasera at a press conference in the morning. Young people should be allowed to question that. But politicians are trying to delegitimize the protest. The Munich activist Joel Schmit himself was in preventive detention and believes there is no alternative to the form of the protest. Of course he would prefer to go to demonstrations, he says, but history has shown "that demonstrations have not changed the politics of the federal government".
Such statements are good for critics as proof that the activists will inevitably become radicalized in their choice of means if they are unsuccessful. Bonasera tries to appease. It is clear to her that "a small group cannot force any society or government to do anything," said the 25-year-old, referring to the criticism from Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck that "every political goal in a democracy needs a majority". Both the evangelical church and various actors and unions have already shown solidarity with the group, explains Bonasera. And there are majorities in the population for the 9-euro ticket and speed limit.
However, returning to the level of dialogue with politicians is likely to be difficult. At least the opposition has made itself comfortable with its enemy image. CDU leader Friedrich Merz recently called for prison sentences for repeat offenders - if only "so that there is peace outside". The AfD puts the group on a par with terrorists. And the traffic light coalition is now being criticized for playing down the alleged "climate extremism".
Indirectly, the "last generation" is actually doing politics a favour. Because it no longer has to deal with the question of how it can actually improve climate protection, but can limit itself to ironing out the critics' most absurd fantasies of punishment. So far, the activists have only achieved this politically: the interior ministers of the federal states have the security authorities draw up a nationwide situation report on the "last generation". And Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced a draft law so that critical infrastructure - such as airports - can be better protected in the future. Hardly anything is said about the climate anymore.
