Günther Felßner: After protest on his farm-CSU-man’s workplace, Minister of Agriculture doesn’t | EUROtoday

DHe desired candidate of CSU boss Markus Söder for the workplace of Federal Minister of Agriculture provides up: Bavaria’s farmers’ president Günther Felßner withdraws from the race. The CSU politician surprisingly introduced this in a private rationalization in Munich.

Broadcasting was preceded by broad protests by environmental and animal rights activists towards Felßner’s potential freestyle, who culminated on Monday in a marketing campaign on Felßner’s courtroom: activists of the group “Animal Rebellion” protested straight on the site- the police are investigating a spokesman for suspicion of trespassing.

While he was in Berlin, his farm was attacked by “so -called activists”, Felßner mentioned. “My wife not only saw himself threatened, but was afraid for life and life. That does something with one when the home is no longer safe from your wife, three children and your father.” Reports that he might have misplaced assist within the CSU have been “nonsense”.

Söder has to search for a brand new ministerial candidate. He had already offered Felßner, who has been President of the Bavarian Farmers ‘Association since 2022 and has additionally been Vice President of the German Farmers’ Association since 2023, as a CSU need for the Federal Minister of Agriculture in November.

“Family always takes place,” says Söder

“I regret his decision, but I respect her – family always goes,” mentioned Söder on Tuesday, “but I’m sad”. Because it will have been the prospect to lastly win “a specialist” who “would not have come from the lecture hall to parliament, but from the practice to the government”.

In addition, he additionally feels the sensation of “outrage over the hatred, the agitation and the radicality against a man and his family,” continued Söder. The habits of the protesters is “not an exchange of views, but criminal”. This mustn’t stay with out penalties, however have to be knowledgeable with “zero tolerance”. Because: “This is not the form of democracy that we can accept.”

The President of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, regrets Felßner’s withdrawal: “It is completely incomprehensible that such personal attacks and threats to family and the property of a politically active farmer are partly tolerated. further poison the democratic discourse, ”he said. Activists should also not have an action right. Those who support these actions destroy democracy from the inside. “Our neighborhood lives from the individuals who volunteer, take over political accountability, whether or not in events, associations or associations.”

Hofreiter alludes to fine

Bavarian member of the Bundestag Anton Hofreiter (Greens) “respects” Felßner’s withdrawal, but also pointed out in the news channel world TV that he has no good “monitor report” in terms of species protection and animal husbandry. “I believe it is necessary that we make an agricultural coverage that ensures that the farmers proceed to have an opportunity to outlive available on the market and on the similar time shield our biodiversity and be certain that the animals are saved correctly,” said Hofiter. “And you possibly can say: he has been convicted in courtroom, has no good monitor Record.”

Hofreiter apparently alluded to a fine that Felßner accepted in 2018 in a trial for soil and water contamination. However, Felßner is not a criminal record. Felßner accuse Environmental associations of representing the interests of large -scale agricultural industrial companies as President of the Bavarian Farmers’ Association.

The 58-year-old Felßner remained for the office of Minister of Agriculture even when he missed the Bundestag entry via the CSU state list. Finally, it looked as if the personnel had already been approved by CDU boss Friedrich Merz. And so far, no increased interest in the department has been known from the SPD. Felßner’s freestyle was at least considered very likely.

At the same time, protests won against Felsner’s possible career jump. Critics reminded, for example, of a criminal order that the farmer accepted a few years ago because of soil and water pollution- it was about the introduction of silos seepage water into the ground.

Petitions and protests against Felßner

In addition, the Campact organization and the Munich Environmental Institute started online petitions against Felßner’s appointment as Federal Agricultural Minister: Felsner unilaterally represented the interests of the agricultural industry that he wanted to abolish climate protection measures, an environmental sinner and denial was the endangerment of biodiversity by pesticides.

On Monday, 15 activists from the “Animal Rebellion” organization finally protested with a banner on Felßner’s Hof – two of which were climbed onto the roof of cattle keeping with the help of ladders, the organization itself said. A police spokesman spoke of several people who had been found that it was now being investigated on suspicion of trespassing.

“Campact” distances itself from action at Viehhof

Christoph Bautz from the Campact organization said it was good that Felßner would not become agricultural minister. As a “chief lobbyist” of the German Farmers’ Association, he was “severely matted with the agricultural foyer”.

At the same time, Bautz distanced himself from the protests on Felßner’s court. Protest must know limits. “These have been clearly exceeded with the penetration into the privateness of Felßner – such actions can’t be legitimized and we distance ourselves from them,” said Bautz.

With Felßner’s withdrawal, the CSU cabinet speculation is likely to win again. As a rule, the CSU regional group insists on being able to fill cabinet posts from its own ranks. Söder had argued, however, that, as party leader, he was entitled to an external line -up, so to speak.

As a possible replacement candidate, the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture Michaela Kaniber is now being traded. However, the staffing of the ministerial posts is at the end of the coalition negotiations.