Germany’s federal integration commissioner, Natalie Pawlik, has warned against making blanket accusations about so-called migrant communities after violent clashes at the weekend, particularly in Frankfurt. She said the violence was entirely unjustifiable and must be punished consistently, but argued that investigations should focus on why young people commit such acts rather than on their origins.
Pawlik said possible causes such as a lack of prospects, experiences of exclusion and integration problems should be examined if specific groups were found to be disproportionately involved. “Perpetrators are perpetrators,” she said, stressing that broad group-based labels would obscure the underlying causes and would also affect peaceful demonstrators with a migration background.
Her comments followed statements by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who had blamed violent left-wing groups and “troublemakers from the migrant milieu” for the unrest. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Chancellor Friedrich Merz shared Dobrindt’s assessment of the situation.
Pawlik called for early support for young people through equal educational opportunities, targeted youth work both online and offline, stronger democratic education and clear criminal penalties for every act of violence.
The government is also concerned about a suspected cyberattack involving politicians’ mobile phones. Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger confirmed that Apple had warned that certain devices may have been compromised with so-called mercenary spyware. According to a report citing a letter from Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, some iPhone users had received notifications since Thursday that such an attack had been detected.
Spyware can secretly extract data from infected phones and, in some cases, activate their cameras and microphones without the user’s knowledge. The government has not disclosed which members may have been affected. A separate cyberattack disrupted the email inboxes of Left Party members of the Bundestag, but authorities said it was unrelated to the possible spyware incident. The BSI has been involved and affected lawmakers have received instructions for filtering the large volume of messages.
The government says it wants to listen more closely to young people after the protests. Education Minister Karin Prien said she wanted to hear from young people who had not engaged in violence. Her ministry said she was due to meet representatives of the Federal Student Conference and the head of the Education and Science Workers’ Union, Maike Finnern.
The Greens criticised the government for focusing on potential violence rather than the demands raised by young protesters. Green Party youth spokesman Luis Bobga said those demands included concerns about rising rents and access to therapy places. Green MP Banaszak said peaceful and legitimate demonstrations should not be discredited because violence took place later.
Left Party leader Pantisano accused Dobrindt and the interior ministers of Germany’s states of creating exaggerated threats before the protests. He said clashes had occurred, but maintained that they followed peaceful demonstrations by Generation Z.
Chancellor Merz thanked the police and said most young people had demonstrated peacefully. He described the political engagement of the younger generation and its concern for the future as a positive message. Merz said the government wanted to reduce the burdens placed on young people by an ageing society, including through pension reform, investment in security and preparations for the digital economy. He also acknowledged shortcomings in housing and said the issues remained high on the government’s agenda.
In Berlin, coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party have begun. Senior representatives of the three parties met in the state parliament, while specialist working groups are expected to discuss individual policy areas. The talks are based on the outcome of earlier exploratory negotiations.
The planned alliance has faced criticism over how to address antisemitism, following several incidents involving members of the Left Party. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that all parties must oppose hostility towards Jews throughout their organisations, from national leadership to local members and supporters.
Without naming a party, Steinmeier said that anyone chanting “Death to the Jews” or calling for the destruction of the Jewish state must not receive understanding or applause from any political organisation. He said antisemitism must be rejected whether it comes from the political right or left.
The prospect of a Berlin coalition involving the Left Party has also drawn opposition within the SPD. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he did not support such an alliance, arguing that the Berlin Left remained unclear on important issues, including antisemitism, relations with security authorities and criminal clans. Former Berlin mayor Franziska Giffey and former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel are among more than 700 Social Democrats who have signed an appeal opposing a coalition “at any price.”
Elsewhere, the Defence Ministry acknowledged problems and delays affecting the planned procurement of H145 helicopters. The Bundeswehr is expected to receive military versions of the aircraft from Airbus for around 2.5 billion euros, including a light combat helicopter variant equipped with Israeli anti-tank missiles. The ministry said industry was responsible for delivering significant progress.
The government’s plans for private heating have also drawn opposition from environmental groups and tenants’ representatives. The governing parties want to introduce quotas for green gas and green heating oil, requiring gas and oil suppliers to gradually switch to climate-neutral fuels from 2028, including biomethane, bio-oil, green and low-carbon hydrogen, and synthetic methane.
Sources: FAZ.