German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned today about “extremists” who seek to take advantage of social gatherings and protests in Germany, especially farmers, saying he is concerned about calls to violence that threaten democracy.
“When protests, which are legitimate in themselves, turn into anger or contempt for democratic processes and institutions, then we all lose. Only those who despise our democracy will benefit,” warned Scholz in a video message.
Referring to the “tractors that have been blocking city centers, roads and access to highways” across Germany since the beginning of Sunday, Scholz said dispute and disagreement were “part of democracy.”
According to him, anger is fueled in a targeted way, as “extremists, and through social networks, despise every compromise and poison every democratic debate.”
“It’s a toxic mix that should worry us, and it worries me a lot,” Scholz added.
Demonstrations by German farmers, who are protesting the reduction of public aid, are particularly supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is increasingly popular in polls, while many extremist groups are calling on social media for radicalization of actions against the government.
Scholz said he was grateful to the president of the Farmers’ Union, Joachim Rukvid, “for clearly dissociating himself from extremists and certain opportunists who call for rebellion and talk about ‘breaking the system’.”
“It’s not nonsense. It’s dangerous… Calls to violence and personal threats have no place in our democracy,” Soltz said, calling for moderation and a spirit of compromise.
A large protest by farmers is scheduled for Monday in Berlin, Beta news agency writes.
