Freiburg (dpa/lsw) – The federal chairman of the German police union (DPolG), Rainer Wendt, has criticized statements by Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) on how to deal with a nationwide police study. “Winfried Kretschmann’s understanding of democracy has meanwhile degenerated to almost zero level,” Wendt told the Freiburg-based “Badische Zeitung” (Saturday).
The main police staff council in Baden-Württemberg had decided not to take part in the study on the experiences and attitudes of police officers. Prime Minister Kretschmann then declared that he did not want to accept that. He will clarify whether the main staff council even has the option of blocking the participation of police employees in the study.
“You’re now wondering which country we live in,” Wendt told the newspaper. “If politicians take the view that the job of a democratically elected body is to approve political decisions, then we might as well abolish those bodies.” He was pissed off about how the decision of the main staff council was being handled. “In any case, I find the attitude behind statements like those made by Mr. Kretschmann unworthy of representatives of a democratic parliament.”
A compromise is conceivable, said Wendt. “However, the way Mr. Kretschmann behaved makes it difficult to find a compromise.” Apparently, the Prime Minister did not understand what tasks a staff council performs.
