Hubert Aiwanger alludes to the Habeck incident

Incident on the open stage: When wolf protectors disrupted a speech by Free Voters leader Hubert Aiwanger, he reacted unexpectedly.

Augsburg/Munich – 25,000 visitors flocked to Augsburg at the weekend to visit the “Hunting and Fishing” trade fair – the focus was on trends and products from the areas of hunting, fishing, outdoor and off-road. The chairman of the Free Voters, Hubert Aiwanger, also came to give a speech. In the middle of his lecture, young women and men from the group “Animal Rebellion” suddenly stormed the stage with self-painted cardboard signs. The deputy prime minister reacted quickly.

Stormed the stage: Hubert Aiwanger alludes to the Habeck incident on the ferry

During the incident in Augsburg, the 52-year-old shouted to those present: “We're not sending them away, we need people like this to build pasture protection fences and look after the sheep whose bellies were ripped open by wolves.” He didn't want the protesters send them off the stage – but rather take them with them to areas where there are wolves. The audience in attendance responded with clapping and cheers of approval.

Aiwanger now also used the incident to make a jibe at Robert Habeck (Greens): “Wolf protectors are storming the stage (not the ferry) at the hunting fair with banners,” he also wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He was alluding to the incident involving Robert Habeck at the beginning of January, which was discussed nationwide: At that time, farmers prevented Habeck from leaving a ferry after he returned via ferry from a private trip to Hallig Hooge. According to the shipping company, the ship was almost stormed. The background to the protests was the planned cuts in subsidies for farmers.

Incident in the video: Aiwanger reacts to Wolf protectors – “We need people like that”

See Aiwanger's reaction in the video here:

Aiwanger sets his sights on the wolf – Free voters present a 10-point plan

The topic of wolves is traditionally hotly debated in Germany. According to official information, there have been no reports of a wolf attacking a human since wolves were reintroduced to Germany. However, grazing livestock farmers are concerned about possible attacks on their animals. Aiwanger intends to make these concerns heard as well.

After several incidents last year, he said: “We can no longer allow ourselves to be shit on. We have to defend ourselves.” Opposite IPPEN.MEDIA Aiwanger criticized the current regulations for dealing with wolves: “If we are not allowed to actively hunt wolves, tourism will be at massive risk in a few years because farmers can no longer drive out grazing animals and the landscape will become overgrown and lose its attractiveness.” His Party recently laid one 10-point plan for dealing with the wolf.

“That hasn't happened since Kohl!”: A lot of support after Aiwanger's reaction to wolf protectors

The protesters are supporters of the group “Animal Rebellion” – a subgroup of the radical environmental movement “Extinction Rebellion”. The group disrupted events on several days of the fair – the police had to arrive. There was also a mysterious fire alarm on one day of the trade fair, which meant that a hall had to be evacuated. A request from IPPEN.MEDIA “Animal Rebellion” has so far left unanswered.

As expected, there were numerous reactions to the incident in Augsburg on X. His supporters gather under Aiwanger's tweet:

• “They can’t get a fence post in without the emergency doctor having to come.”
• “It’s a dog’s business, Mr. Aiwanger, all respect.”
• “Not many can remain so calm and collected around wolf protectors. Respect!”
• What, politicians who take the fight? That hasn’t happened since Kohl!”

There was also opposition and criticism for Aiwanger's reaction:

• “You’re a splitter with a microphone!”
• “What an infantile comparison.”
• They're really just embarrassing.
  Protecting sheep is great, but wolves don’t protect?”

Incidentally, Aiwanger is already planning the next federal election – his dream: the Bavarian coalition also in the federal government.