German farmers have unleashed a week-long protest against the agricultural policies of Olaf Scholz’s government, causing widespread disruptions across the country.
Convoys of tractors have blocked motorway entrances from north to south, with major cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, and Cologne witnessing significant traffic standstills.
In a surprising turnout, Cologne reported 500 tractors instead of the anticipated 120, indicating the intensity of the farmers’ discontent. The heart of the capital, Berlin, also saw tractors positioned near the Brandenburg Gate.
The protests follow the government’s decision to cut subsidies for the agricultural sector due to a call to order from constitutional judges regarding Germany’s strict budgetary rules.
The anger reached a boiling point when around thirty farmers attacked Economy Minister Robert Habeck, preventing his ferry from docking on Thursday evening.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner criticised the protests, calling them “disproportionate” on Saturday. “If we want new subsidies, we also have to give up the old ones,” Lindner stressed, addressing the farmers’ demands.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser raised concerns about the potential infiltration of right-wing extremists in the demonstrations, fearing attacks on the state and defamation of politicians. She also urged farmers not to block ambulance routes.
The government, in response to the unrest, softened its plans on Thursday by phasing out the tax advantage on diesel consumption gradually until 2026, rather than an immediate withdrawal.
The vehicle tax advantage for forestry and agriculture will be maintained, but the industry deems the compromise insufficient.
The protests have gained attention on social media, with figures like Nicolas Vidal, founder of Putsch.Media, comparing the movement to the ‘Yellow Vests’ in France.
Italian MEP Marco Campomenosi highlighted the march of German tractors towards Berlin, while German AfD MEP Kristine Anderson predicted large protests across the country.
“The nation is finally and literally fed up,” declared Anderson. “On January 8th, 2024, we will see what happens when the pillars of this state no longer humbly bow their heads but instead put the authoritarian policies of the old parties in their place.”
