A German politician says he understands the protesting youth "I understand each and every one of them," said the head of Germany's largest state, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik West. "The fact that young people are active and stand up for their interests together shows the vitality of our democracy," he told the Kellner Stadt-Enziger newspaper. At the same time, West called on the protesting young people to "remain peaceful and respectful to everyone." West quoted the organizers' commitment that at the demonstrations "any form of violence will be rejected, there will be no provocations against the police and there will be no room for extremism." More than 140,000 people have already registered to participate in the Saturday demonstrations under the slogan "Gen Z rules" ("Generation Z takes power") in various cities. The actions are directed, among other things, against the rising cost of living, the potential return of military service in Germany and ineffective climate policy.

A German politician says he understands the protesting youth "I understand each and every one of them," said the head of Germany's largest state, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik West. "The fact that young people are active and stand up for their interests together shows the vitality of our democracy," he told the Kellner Stadt-Enziger newspaper. At the same time, West called on the protesting young people to "remain peaceful and respectful to everyone." West quoted the organizers' commitment that at the demonstrations "any form of violence will be rejected, there will be no provocations against the police and there will be no room for extremism." More than 140,000 people have already registered to participate in the Saturday demonstrations under the slogan "Gen Z rules" ("Generation Z takes power") in various cities. The actions are directed, among other things, against the rising cost of living, the potential return of military service in Germany and ineffective climate policy.