- Free voters want to make it harder to complain about public holidays
The Free Voters want to reduce regulations and requirements for showmen and organizers of folk and club festivals in Bavaria. After the parliamentary summer break, the faction plans to submit a motion to the state parliament that, in addition to deregulation, explicitly aims to improve protection – i.e., higher hurdles – "against too many requirements and complaints from individual citizens" and longer opening hours.
Locke: Folk and club festivals as a living tradition
Bavaria's identity is inextricably linked to its many traditional folk and club festivals, said Felix Locke, parliamentary business manager of the faction. However, conflicts have arisen in recent years. The bureaucratic hurdles – including those for limiting opening hours – are now threatening the organization of folk and club festivals.
"Some of the – sometimes recently moved-in – residents complain about the typical festival and celebration noises, such as loud music, firecrackers, and fireworks, as well as the smells coming from the festival tents and events, such as smoked fish," said Locke. "However, our sense of home is based on a centuries-old history that has been significantly shaped by Bavarian folk and club festivals as a living tradition and important cultural heritage."
"Traditionally and indispensable are, among others, the shooting of firecrackers, the parade with brewery teams and children's carousels with animal figures," the resolution states. Specifically, the Free Voters are calling for the abolition of the current licensing requirements for showmen and itinerant caterers. In Bavaria, they currently need, in addition to a trade license, also a permit under the Federal Hospitality Act, which includes a check of reliability.
Exemption from tolls, lower value-added tax, simplified building law
"This regulation is redundant, as reliability is already a prerequisite for the issuance of the trade license," said the responsible spokeswoman for the faction, Jutta Widmann. Many other federal states have already waived the additional permit.
"In addition to deregulation, we want to protect folk and club festivals in the Free State from too many requirements and complaints from individual citizens and not restrict proven opening hours," said Widmann. The coalition agreement already provides for the creation of a hospitality law with a deregulated approach.
Furthermore, the motion calls for fewer requirements in the building code for tents, stages, and tribunes for folk and club festivals, exemption from tolls for vehicles of caterers and restaurateurs. The federal government must also permanently reduce the value-added tax rate for food and beverages to seven percent.
The Free Voters believe that the abolition of excess regulations and requirements for showmen and organizers could lead to a more enjoyable and less controversial party atmosphere at folk and club festivals. Due to the current restrictions, some residents complain about the festival noises and smells, which conflicts with their desire for tranquility, but these traditions are deeply ingrained in Bavarian culture and history.
