Siemens headquarters: Police clear the roof around 8:20 p.m.
Around 7.40 p.m., eleven activists voluntarily decided to leave the roof area and were accompanied by emergency services into the building. “In the ongoing talks with the Munich police, the activists rejected all offers to solve the situation,” the police said.
Around 8:20 p.m., special forces and other emergency personnel cleared the roof, the remaining activists were carried from the roof to the inside of the building and released after “identity verification in the police headquarters”.
The last persons, who were three activists who were hanging on climbing ropes on the facade, were to be rescued at their own request with the help of a lifting platform from the Munich Fire Brigade. When the professional fire brigade recovered two of the three people around 10:45 p.m., the third person abseiled ten meters on his own initiative and then ended his action on his own.
Greenpeace: Offer of talks accepted by Siemens boss
As Greenpeace announced on Twitter, Siemens boss Joe Kaeser is said to have made an offer to talk to the activists – the activists assumed that. But then, according to her, the roof was cleared.
“The giant corporation promises sustainable action, but still has contracts like the one with the Adani coal mine in Australia,” Greenpeace said in a corresponding tweet about its action. The police were already there in the afternoon with a larger contingent “to correct the situation,” as it was said. In the meantime, helicopters also circled the area. According to the police, around 150 emergency services were on site.
Despite the evacuation, the situation was “calm and peaceful”, there was no “public impairment”. The Munich police are investigating for trespassing and property damage. The evacuation was peaceful overall, according to the current state of knowledge, no emergency services and no activists were injured.
Siemens Annual General Meeting on Wednesday will be uncomfortable
The Siemens Annual General Meeting on Wednesday could be the last of CEO Joe Kaeser. At the shareholders’ meeting this Wednesday in Munich, activists from various groups are planning protests before and at the general meeting. There should also be criticism from investors. The dispute over the Adani coal mine in Australia overshadows the Annual General Meeting.
Kaeser’s contract as Chairman of the Management Board expires at the end of the year. Activists from “Fridays for Future” have registered protests in front of the Olympic Hall, where the general assembly traditionally takes place. How many demonstrators are coming is difficult to estimate, said a spokesman.
In front of the Olympic Hall: large-scale demonstration against Siemens
The demonstration is supported by Greenpeace, the Federal Nature Conservation, the environmental movement “Extinction Rebellion” and Campact. “It will certainly be very full because many are calling for it,” says a Greenpeace spokeswoman. Campact has written to and asked around 18,000 people from the greater Munich area to participate, but expects that only a small number of those contacted will find time for the campaign.
Siemens says it is a normal general meeting. The group is aware, however, that there will be bigger protests than usual. “We align the security requirements with this,” said a spokesman. But he also emphasizes that the protests that have taken place so far have been non-violent and peaceful.
Inside the Olympic Hall, Kaeser will also have to listen to criticism. Alone with the voting rights of the Association of Critical Shareholders, a dozen speakers want to speak to the microphone – including a representative of the Aborigines of Australia affected by the Adani project. In addition, there are several motions from individual shareholders who oppose the discharge of the executive board, the supervisory board or Kaeser as chairman of the executive board. However, they should have no prospect of success. However, negative tones are also likely from institutional investors.
“The Adani case was a communicative disaster for Siemens”
Vera Diehl from Union Investment said: “The Adani case was a communicative disaster for Siemens.” Diehl is also clearly positioning itself for the end of Kaeser’s time at Siemens: “From our point of view, there is currently little reason to believe that Mr. Kaeser will get another contract extension as CEO or take over as chairman of the supervisory board.”
Deka Investment’s Ingo Speich says that “they are interested in an orderly succession plan” that does not provide for Kaeser’s term in office. Kaeser presented solid figures. In the past financial year, Siemens defied the weakening global economy and increased sales and operating profit.
Also read: Siemens is asking shareholders questions
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