“They are chaotic people” – Dobrindt rejects criticism of his choice of words and supports the police

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has rejected criticism of his choice of words regarding the riots during the youth protests. He said on Tuesday in a speech at the Federal Congress of the Police Union (GdP) in Berlin that he could not otherwise describe the violence he saw on the streets on Saturday.

"They are chaotic people and you can then discuss how to describe them further. Are they chaotic people from the left, are they chaotic people from the right, are they Islamist chaotic people, are they chaotic people with a migrant background," said Dobrindt. When chaotic people attack police officers, it is important to be on the right side and protect the police force.

After the riots, the minister spoke of “violent left-wing groups and migrant chaotics” and said that the violence came particularly from “migrant milieus”. He did not repeat this with such severity in his speech at the GdP congress.

Statements by Dobrindt and other Union politicians about the rioters' migrant origins sparked debates and warnings about blanket judgments. Among other things, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) contradicted the Interior Minister. The Greens criticized that it was wrong to label people with a migration background as a problem.

In front of the delegates, Dobrindt called for more recognition and appreciation for the work of the police. The officers carried out their operations “in a highly professional manner”. He rejected allegations that police violence had also contributed to an escalation.

GdP federal chairman Jochen Kopelke criticized the discussions about the origin or skin color of perpetrators as unhelpful. When asked on “Deutschlandfunk” about a blanket defamation of entire social groups, he admitted that it was hurtful for them. At the same time he asked what people should be called and used the term “Talahon”.

It goes back to the Arabic phrase “Ta’ala hon” (“Come here!”) and was originally a self-designation. According to anti-racism initiatives and social scientists, right-wing actors are increasingly using it to devalue young men with a migrant background.

"Those are the ones in the pictures. How do you know in advance which Talahon, which young man, will not have himself under control again?" said Kopelke, referring to the riots in Frankfurt/Main. Society has no way of dealing with or responding to this crime phenomenon.

In view of the high burden on the federal police, Dobrindt said that the controls at the German borders should not become a permanent facility. “We have to get back to the point where we experience a Europe without controls at the internal borders.” It was important to ensure that irregular migration decreased, “but we are also supporters of a Europe with open borders.” He did not give a time frame for an end to controls at the EU's internal borders.

Dobrindt assured police officers of improvements in pay. The Interior and Finance Ministries are currently working together on the alimony rules. “My goal is that we will pass this regulation in the Bundestag this year,” he said. The new regulation also involves the implementation of the Federal Constitutional Court's requirements regarding the level of remuneration.