ZDF Talk: “Markus Lanz”: Experts give reasons for New Year’s riots

One should not be surprised by the riots that shook several German cities on New Year’s Eve. This was explained by CDU leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday at “Markus Lanz“. After all, anyone who “ignores legal vacuums throughout the year” should not be surprised if such unrest breaks out on days like May 1st or New Year’s Eve.

Both riots on December 31, police officers, rescue workers, but also passers-by were attacked and injured. Among the approximately 150 people arrested in Berlin, the police counted almost 50 people with Iranian or Afghan nationality. This sparked renewed debate about Germany’s security and migration policies. For Merz it is clear that action must be taken now. “We watched in Germany for too long and let the focal points be focal points.”

“Markus Lanz” – These were the guests:

Nevertheless it showed Merz shocked at the level of violence. He repeatedly emphasized: “We have to ensure from the outset that people are shown boundaries.” The politician therefore considers earlier legal proceedings against conspicuous perpetrators to be the right way.

Eva Quadbeck on “Markus Lanz”: “Punishing is not enough”

The CDU leader was criticized by the other guests on the first show since the winter break. the Journalist Eva Quadbeck has been editor-in-chief of the “RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland” since December 2022. She felt that the riots had reached a new dimension. She positioned herself clearly against Merz’s statement: “Punishment is not enough.” In her opinion, penalties could lead to further escalations. Rather, she saw it as a goal to reach out to the affected fringe groups and ensure de-escalation.

The sociologist and education expert also agreed with her on this point Aladin El-Mafaalani to. He recalled that there had already been tougher penalties in response to New Year’s Eve riots in 2018. Otherwise little happened, which is why the riots have now been repeated.

Lanz asked: Why did the riots happen on New Year’s Eve?

When asked by Markus Lanz how the riots came about, the education expert highlighted different possible motives for the riots growing intensity of violence of the small groupings. El-Mafaalani emphasized that many of the attackers not only had a migrant background, but also came from the left milieu.

A possible commonality of the rioters: “There is the trend that you can see after Corona, […] that role holders and officials are met with less automatic respect.” According to the sociologist, this increasing lack of distance transcends the boundaries between rich and poor. That’s why it’s too easy for yourself if you only consider migration and possible disintegration when dealing with the problem, El-Mafaalani clarified.

Marcel Fratzscher sees a lack of prospects as the trigger

Further answers to the question of why more and more young people seem to be losing respect for the state system were offered Marcel Fratzscher. He is an economist and President of the German Institute for Economic Research. He agreed with El-Mafaalani, who previously highlighted the lack of opportunities in certain neighborhoods for young migrants.

Fratzscher explained in the round that the “Increasing polarization” with a lack of opportunities and future prospects connections. According to statistics, around 10 percent of all young people have no school qualifications, he said. Factors such as the explosion in rents and problems affecting society as a whole, such as the climate crisis, gave the younger generation the feeling: “Nobody cares about me.” This is how trust in state institutions is falling. This phenomenon can not only be observed in Germany.

Markus Lanz: That’s how the last programs went

Guests at “Markus Lanz” agree: Politics must support fringe groups earlier

Both Fratzscher and journalist Quadbeck and sociologist El-Mafaalani made it clear on the show that they wanted politicians to start prevention much earlier. Many people don’t realize that Germany is a country with many opportunities, Quadbeck explained, “because our bureaucracy is just as complicated as our grammar”. She also emphasized that the Education, work and employment factors especially for migrants should become more easily accessible.

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Integration must therefore begin earlier in the future. What could that look like in concrete terms? Everyone present seemed to have a hard time with this question. At the end of the show, Friedrich Merz thought aloud about one kindergarten duty after – for German children as well as children from abroad. A discussion that would not be in politics for the first time, but so far has mostly met with a lot of criticism.

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