BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – From the point of view of Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey, it is pointless to hope for a ban on firecrackers throughout Germany. “We will not achieve a nationwide ban on firecrackers. The conference of interior ministers will not vote for it,” said the SPD politician on Friday evening at a talk event in the daily newspaper “taz” in Berlin. At most, there will be more flexibility in weapons and explosives legislation, which will give the federal states more scope for decision-making. “Even then, we have to think: Does that even make sense?”
“You all know that Berlin is not an island. People drive 80 kilometers to Poland, get their stuff there or go to Brandenburg,” said Giffey. “We also have to be realistic in some way. We’ll discuss that. I really hope that at least the blank pistols will be narrowed down – very clearly.”
Giffey dampened hopes of a guaranteed quiet New Year’s Eve this year: “I’m not going to promise you that everything will be as quiet as in the small village,” said the Governing Mayor. “It won’t be, we have to make that very clear: Berlin is a city of almost 4 million people. We will always have a special situation here, even on New Year’s Eve.”
Last New Year’s Eve there were riots in several major German cities and attacks on the police and fire brigade. The attacks in Berlin were particularly violent./ah/DP/men
