Animal Rebellion activists staged a protest at the farm of Günther Felßner, a CSU politician, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race for Federal Minister of Agriculture.

Felßner announced his decision to step down in a personal statement made in Munich, citing safety concerns for himself and his family.

He described the protest as a violent invasion of his family's privacy, stating that both his wife and an employee felt threatened during the incident.

The incident has raised alarms about the safety of politicians, prompting calls for new legal measures to protect them from intimidation.

The protest drew widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, with CSU leader Markus Söder labeling it a 'brutal attack' and calling for a special investigation.

Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir also condemned the protest as unacceptable intimidation in a democracy, emphasizing that such actions have no place in political discourse.

In response to the backlash, Animal Rebellion defended their protest as peaceful, accusing Felßner of using the incident as a pretext to withdraw due to his declining popularity.

Reports suggest that Felßner's candidacy was already under pressure due to his lack of government experience and prior environmental offenses, indicating that the protest may not be the sole reason for his withdrawal.

Felßner's appointment was controversial, as he faced criticism for being a lobbyist with a problematic environmental record, which fueled opposition to his candidacy.

His controversial past includes a conviction for soil and water pollution, which has further complicated his political aspirations.

Despite the dramatic portrayal of the protest, some experts suggest that the reaction was exaggerated and may have inadvertently provided Felßner with a reason to step back from a contentious position.

Felßner's withdrawal is likely to intensify speculation regarding cabinet appointments within the CSU, which traditionally prefers to fill such positions from its own ranks.