Around 2.7 million people had signed a petition calling for a nationwide ban on fireworks on New Year’s Eve by Tuesday midday. The petition, initiated by the Police Union (GdP), has become the largest petition ever recorded in Germany, according to campaign platform innn.it.
Berlin’s GdP state chairman Stephan Weh used the occasion to call for a meeting with Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), who has so far rejected a ban. “We don’t want to wait until one of our colleagues loses their life in this senseless and wild fireworks madness during the night,” Weh said, according to the statement. “Germany is ready for a rethink on New Year’s Eve,” he added.
For safety reasons, the GdP is pushing for a general ban on the sale of pyrotechnics for private use and is proposing organized public events as an alternative.
GdP federal chairman Jochen Kopelke warned of “lawless spaces” caused by fireworks. Speaking to news portal t-online.de, he criticized the federal government’s rejection of a general ban. “Mr Dobrindt must now also be judged by the New Year’s Eve balance,” he said, referring to the interior minister. Kopelke also accused Dobrindt of setting the wrong priorities, saying that 15,000 police officers were deployed at borders on his instruction and were therefore missing from protecting cities and train stations.
Meanwhile, a majority of Germany’s federal states support giving states more authority to regulate New Year’s Eve fireworks, according to a report by Der Spiegel. Ten states are said to be in favor, although their proposals differ.
Berlin and Bremen want states to be allowed to decide independently on fireworks bans. Bavaria also supports greater state authority but would continue to allow fireworks. Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern favor giving municipalities more leeway to impose fireworks bans.
Rhineland-Palatinate is calling for protective zones around animal shelters and zoos. Other states oppose additional regional powers, the report said. Alongside security concerns, including attacks on police and firefighters, fireworks are also criticized for health risks, animal welfare issues and environmental damage.
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