Farmers in Germany block roads and towns across the country
Published: Monday, Jan 8th 2024, 17:20
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In Germany, thousands of farmers demonstrated against the policies of the government in Berlin with tractor convoys stretching for miles and blockades at highway entrances, disrupting road traffic throughout Monday. According to the police, tens of thousands of tractors were on the road in many cities and regions at the start of a nationwide week of protests.
According to police reports, farmers in almost all federal states blocked highway ramps and other bottlenecks such as tunnels, ferry docks, bridges and traffic circles on federal and state roads at times. The farmers were supported by haulage companies protesting against the increase in truck tolls.
Columns of tractors and other vehicles also drove through many regions, sometimes stretching for 15 to 20 kilometers.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to the police, all highway slip roads were temporarily impassable this morning, and in Brandenburg almost all slip roads were closed. Officials there also reported that entire towns were sealed off.
Rallies in larger cities
Farmers across Germany also gathered for rallies in larger cities, where they held central rallies throughout the day. They also caused major traffic disruptions.
In Munich alone, the police said they escorted around 5500 tractors from the surrounding region towards the city center. In Bremen, officers counted around 2,000 tractors and trucks, in Wiesbaden, Leipzig and Halle an der Saale up to around 1,500 each.
In Berlin, farmers, who were supported in their protests by hauliers and other tradespeople, gathered with 680 vehicles near the Brandenburg Gate and the Bundestag, according to the police.
There were also large convoys and demonstrations in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Potsdam and Düsseldorf. In Rhineland-Palatinate, a convoy 18 to 20 kilometers long with more than 1,000 tractors and trucks moved along the Autobahn 63 towards Mainz, according to the police. This was therefore closed.
Border crossings to France blocked
Protesting tractor drivers also blocked border crossings in some places. In Rheinau and Kehl, for example, the crossings to France were impassable for a few hours, according to the police.
The police also reported isolated incidents on Monday. For example, protesting farmers near Vechta in Lower Saxony blocked a highway with around 100 tractors, according to police reports. All three lanes of the A1 in the direction of Hamburg were impassable, according to officials in Oldenburg. The police initiated criminal proceedings against those involved.
In other federal states, the police also reportedly initiated criminal and misdemeanour proceedings against participants in the demonstrations, which were usually registered in advance, for example for "slow driving on freeways".
Injured due to accidents
In Lower Saxony and Saxony, demonstrators were injured by motorists. According to the police, a protester in Lower Saxony suffered serious injuries when a driver tried to drive around a blockade on a footpath and cycle path and collided with him. The driver initially fled, but was later apprehended.
The farmers' association had called for a week of action to demonstrate against the removal of subsidies for the sector. The main issue is the tax relief on agricultural diesel. The fact that the federal government in Berlin has withdrawn some of its savings plans is not enough for the association. The government made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP launched these plans on Monday.
Farmers' Association President Joachim Rukwied once again clearly distanced himself from extremist activities and actions such as the blockade action against Economics Minister Robert Habeck in Schleswig-Holstein last week. Fringe groups were responsible for this.
©Keystone/SDA
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