Stop rogues – strengthen the common good

Joint press release on the protest action for social justice, including in agriculture

Joint protest action against investor conference ‘Super-Return International’ sends a signal for the common good instead of greed for profit

Berlin, 08.06.2026: Today, a broad alliance of several organisations protested, including the Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (AbL), Attac Deutschland, the Berlin Alliance for Health instead of Profits, the Alliance against Repression and Tenancy Madness Berlin and the Basic Income Network at the entrance to the investor conference “SuperReturn” in Berlin. From 8 to 12 June, various investors who want to privatize the health care system and pension in Germany will gather there to make apartments and agricultural land a speculative object and thus have a decisive influence on elementary areas of our society. With its protest under the slogan ‘Stop rogues – strengthen the common good’, the Alliance criticised the fact that investors’ profit-seeking leads to rising rents and gentrification, exacerbates hunger and leads to the displacement of regional farmers, poorer health care and more armaments and surveillance. Instead of providing further incentives for investors, the Alliance calls on politicians to implement measures for the socially just, sustainable and responsible development of society.

In this regard, I would like to say:

Maria Schubert, Berlin Alliance for Health instead of Profits: “Health care is seen at Superreturn as a lucrative field for private investors and high profits. However, profit-oriented healthcare means maximizing revenues, for example through unnecessary examinations and interventions, and minimizing expenses, for example by saving personnel. Instead, we need good public and non-profit healthcare that is not based on high profits, but on people’s needs!”

Kim Meyer, Alliance against Repression and Rent Madness Berlin: “At Super-Return, the world of hedge funds and finance meets in search of new investment opportunities. We see self-promotion ‘unmatched seniority and investment power’ as a clear threat of a further sell-off of our cities. And that does not only mean houses and apartments.”

Reiko Wöllert, farmer from Haina (Thuringia) and stellv. Federal Chairman of the Working Group on Farming (ABL): “Farmers cannot compete with non-agricultural investors, young entrepreneurs without land much less. The cases of Igneo and Quarterback Real Estate show that high-capital investors can pay arbitrarily high prices, driving up land prices and endangering the existence of farms. A diverse, crisis-resilient agriculture with a regional supply of good food to society now requires decisive political action.”

Die Freien Bäcker – Zeit für Verantwortung e.V.: ‘In Germany, bakeries move unnoticed into the portfolios of financial investors – often sold under the label ‘Handwerksbäckerei’, although there is little connection with genuine bakery trade. If the bill does not pay off, empty branches, redundant workers and regions without bakers will be left behind – while genuine craftsmanship, working with regional raw materials, proven knowledge and local professionals, will continue to disappear under the price pressure of these scale structures. Craft bakeries belong in the hands of those who run them, know them and are locally responsible – not in private equity investment portfolios.”

Ronald Blaschke, Member of the Network Council, Network Basic Income: “The aim is to invest for people instead of for returns. Redistribution is needed so that everyone can lead a good life. Like access to health care, healthy food and good housing, social security is a human right that is unconditionally recognised by all. It enables participation in the democratic shaping of society, the economy and services of general interest. That's why we say: NoSuperReturn. Basic income for all instead of power and wealth for a few!”

Philipp Mimkes, Managing Director of FIAN Germany: “Financial investors gamble with our food. Financial bets on agricultural commodities artificially make staple foods more expensive and exacerbate global hunger crises. This blatantly violates the universal human right to food. This also increases social inequality. At the same time, environmental problems and climate change are literally fueled by speculative practices, as short-term profit interests overlay long-term sustainability goals. The policy must effectively prevent this damage.’

Kiva Drexel, Climate Justice Officer, PowerShift e.V.: "The climate crisis makes it clear: We need a sustainable use of agricultural land. We need agricultural land for organic farming, climate adaptation and climate protection – not for yield. Anyone who leaves agricultural land to financial investors today is losing the foundation of our food and future.”

Isabel Armbrust, Attac Germany: “While many people suffer from rising rents and cuts in the social sector, participants in the super-return manage trillions of dollars in assets. The problem is not lack of money, but its extreme concentration in the hands of less. Those who want to strengthen democracy must limit wealth and tax large assets fairly.”

Press photos are available at this link available from 14:00. For photo information please use: Photo: AbL/ Susana Woitzik

Background information on the Alliance partners: