The recent arson attack in Berlin has ignited a fierce political debate regarding the protection of Germany’s critical infrastructure, with prominent Green Party politician Konstantin von Notz accusing Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) of systemic negligence. Von Notz, deputy parliamentary group leader, argues that the vulnerability of essential societal systems has been a well-documented issue for years, consistently downplayed and inadequately addressed by those in power, particularly within the Federal Interior Ministry.
He highlighted the government’s persistent failure to uniformly implement two key European Union directives concerning the protection of critical infrastructure, a deficiency he characterizes as deeply concerning. Despite repeated pledges from both Dobrindt and Merz to prioritize safeguarding democratic institutions, tangible progress remains disappointingly limited, according to von Notz.
The criticisms come against a backdrop of increasing warnings about the potentially devastating consequences of widespread power outages, risks that the Berlin incident has once again starkly illuminated. Von Notz emphasized the urgency of bolstering societal resilience, underlining the profound scale of the oversight and the imperative to act decisively.
“The Berlin case underscores, once again, the absolute necessity of swiftly reinforcing the neglected protection of critical infrastructure and significantly strengthening public safety measures” von Notz stated. He stressed that safeguarding vital infrastructure is a crucial element in the defense against hybrid threats, particularly in a climate defined by terrorism and sabotage. The incident, he concludes, demands a comprehensive reassessment of national security priorities and a clear commitment to prioritizing the protection of the nation’s essential lifelines. The parliamentary control committee, of which von Notz is deputy chairman, is expected to launch a formal investigation into the matter.