From Monday, farmers in Germany will make their frustration with government policies felt across the country, especially when it comes to traffic disruptions. Regionally there may be disruption to road traffic.
The week of action against the planned subsidy cuts will mainly consist of blockades of highway access, rally trips to larger cities and slow-moving convoys, as the state farmers’ associations have announced. Actual impacts are likely to vary widely from region to region. The farmers’ association is supported during the action week by the forwarders’ association BGL.
The week of action will end with a protest in Berlin on January 15, for which, according to the police, 10,000 participants had registered. Thousands of tractors are also expected in the capital.
Agricultural diesel subsidy required
Farmers want to keep agricultural diesel subsidies. The farmers’ association wants to use these actions to ensure that the federal government completely reverses the planned cuts in subsidies. The traffic light coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP announced on Thursday that they do not want to implement some of the planned cuts. But that is not enough for the farmers’ association.
In concrete terms, this concerns subsidies for agricultural diesel, which will be gradually abolished according to current government plans. The originally planned abolition of the exemption from motor vehicle tax for agriculture and forestry is no longer an issue.
Warning about infiltration by right-wing extremists
Preparations for the week of action have been accompanied in recent days, especially on social networks, by calls for a general strike, which is virtually impossible in Germany from a purely legal perspective. On Thursday, demonstrators prevented the federal Minister of Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, from leaving a ferry on the North Sea coast.
Habeck then expressed concern about the mood in Germany. It was not yet clear on Friday who exactly was behind this protest. The German Farmers’ Association and other regional agricultural associations distanced themselves from this.
The German Interior Ministry has now warned against attempts by extreme forces to take advantage of the farmers’ protests. A spokesperson for Minister Nancy Faeser said it can be assumed that both actors from the right-wing extremist spectrum and those who want to delegitimize the state will try to exploit the events for their own interests during the week of protests. (sda/awp/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
