German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday defended the eviction of the mining town of Lützerath to make way for mining construction, while criticizing environmental activists who have tried to block the evacuation of the town.
«Even I demonstrated a lot in the past. But for me there is a limit that has been crossed when protests turn violent,» Chancellor Scholz told the daily ‘TAZ’ in reference to the clashes between activists and police.
Thus, the German head of government has ruled out that the Central European country’s climate goals could be compromised by the construction of a lignite mine under Lützerath. «This accusation is not true. It is exactly the opposite: We are acting to achieve our climate targets,» he defended.
At this point, Scholz has acknowledged that his government’s unconditional goal is to make Germany climate neutral by 2045.
The German police confirmed late Thursday the evacuation of «a large part» of the activists who were occupying Lützerath, in the west of the country, because of their opposition to the use of this area for coal production, and who have even occupied subway passages under the town.
The German energy giant RWE is planning to expand a lignite mine, so the town has become a symbol of activism against fossil fuels. In fact, a demonstration has been called for Saturday, with Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg expected to attend.
The company RWE has erected a two-meter high fence to establish a security perimeter and that on Thursday is almost completed, according to a spokesman for the firm. In addition, work has already begun on the access to the village to demolish buildings and cut down trees.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
