The security authorities want to prevent violent demonstrators from abroad from entering the planned nationwide youth protests this weekend. “If necessary, people will be turned back by the federal police at the border,” said a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin.
The German authorities are in close contact with France and Italy, where there have been some violent protests in recent weeks.
The authorities made a “very clear distinction” between the announced peaceful student protests and a violent, extremist scene that may want to use the protests to spread violence, said the spokeswoman.
However, the federal authorities currently have no further information on violent riots in connection with the meetings. The calls for mobilization emphasized their peaceful character and expressly distanced themselves from violent clashes abroad.
However, according to the spokeswoman, in addition to predominantly non-extremist actors, parts of the left-wing extremist scene and isolated groups from foreign-related extremism are also taking up the calls to take part in the mobilization.
“Gen Z regulates” is calling for nationwide demonstrations on Saturday. Around 160,000 interested people announced their participation. The initiative organizes the demonstrations itself in Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich, and interested parties can join local initiatives in more than 30 other cities.
Among other things, the young people want to take to the streets for better education and an affordable life, but also for more climate protection, against cuts in social services, against rearmament and more surveillance.
At a press conference in Cologne, the initiators made serious accusations against the federal government and called for decisive action to address the concerns of young people. "Mr. Merz, we will exercise our basic right to assemble until you stop ignoring us," said 18-year-old Steve.
He speaks for a youth that feels abandoned and is worried about losing touch. The Merz government has no other answer to these concerns “other than to continue making cuts and imposing further burdens on us.”
Social researchers warn against losing sight of the demands of the younger generation due to warnings of violence. The issues of the protests have long been pressing concerns of young people, said Kilian Hampel from the University of Konstanz, co-author of the trend study "Youth in Germany", on Deutschlandfunk.
The protests should not be denied their justification. The young people are not naive and are aware of the limits of financial flexibility. “But they at least expect that they will be involved in the decision, that they really have a say,” said the expert.
There is cross-party understanding for the concerns of “Gen Z”, i.e. teenagers and young adults. Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) encouraged the participants and at the same time appealed to them to defy possible provocations: "Be loud. Get involved in parties. But don't be violent," Prien told Stern. Of course, young people have legitimate concerns.
The youth policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Jasmina Hostert, explained that it was about the central questions for the future in Germany. “We see the mission, will listen and advocate for the needs of the young generation.”
The former Green Party leader Ricarda Lang criticized the fact that before the protests there was primarily talk about possible violence instead of about the legitimate demands and fears of young people. Because they would grow up in a world of total uncertainty, she told the broadcaster ntv.
The Left also expressly expressed solidarity with the protests. Party leader Luigi Pantisano said it was exactly the right time for the demonstrations.
