Highlight of the German farmers’ protests: large demonstration in Berlin
Published: Monday, Jan 15th 2024, 05:50
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Thousands of farmers are expected to take part in another major demonstration in Berlin on Monday against the planned end of diesel benefits for the agricultural sector. In addition to representatives of the associations, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) will also speak at the rally. Lindner dampened expectations in advance that the subsidy cuts would be completely waived. Green parliamentary group leader Britta Hasselmann expressed a similar view.
The leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP have also invited the heads of the agricultural associations to a meeting this Monday. The Bundestag still has to approve the 2024 federal budget and the planned cuts to agricultural diesel.
Farmers' associations and the BGL forwarding association have called for the large-scale demonstration. "Once again, politicians should be made aware of what it means to jeopardize the competitiveness and existence of farmers and medium-sized transport companies," the associations explained.
Peak of the protest wave
The rally is the culmination of a wave of protests. The farmers' week of action started last Monday and caused traffic disruptions across Germany, as farmers blocked highway ramps at times, for example.
Around 5,000 tractors and agricultural machinery from all over Germany are expected to travel to Berlin for the rally, according to the police. Around 10,000 people have also been registered. "The federal and country roads leading into Berlin will be particularly busy."
Subsidies for agricultural diesel to be dropped
The German government wants to gradually abolish tax concessions for agricultural diesel. The government intends to abandon the originally planned abolition of the motor vehicle tax exemption for agriculture. However, the German Farmers' Association is calling for the cuts to be completely reversed. "Support for agricultural diesel and the motor vehicle tax exemption are essential for a competitive agricultural sector," it said.
Dirk Wiese, deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group, told Der Spiegel: "There simply has to be more income on the farms and there has to be a clear future perspective for the next generation." Commissions set up by the previous grand coalition had made good proposals for this. "We should look at these again together." However, the spokesman for the Seeheimer Kreis of conservative social democrats did not commit himself to reducing tax benefits for farmers.
Lindner: Everyone must save
Lindner said on Sunday at the New Year's reception of the North Rhine-Westphalian FDP in Düsseldorf that he would "not be able to promise at the rally on Monday that all areas of society would have to make consolidation contributions - except one". Due to a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, the federal government has to plug billions of euros of holes in the federal budget.
The Greens' parliamentary group leader Hasselmann said that forestry and agriculture would remain exempt from vehicle tax and that the subsidy for agricultural diesel would be gradually reduced so that everyone could adjust. "This is a solution that helps farmers while keeping an eye on the overall responsibility for the budget. Farmers have made it clear with their protests that this is also about planning security and economic prospects." The aim is to support farmers with the challenges of the future and the necessary changes.
Criticism from CDU
Leading CDU politicians have criticized statements by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) that the farmers' protests are being deliberately stirred up by radical forces. "I advise the federal government not to engage in diversionary maneuvers, but to take the anger that is boiling up here seriously and to reconsider its erratic policy," CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann told the Bild newspaper (Monday). The organizers must clearly distance themselves from enemies of the constitution and calls for violence. "The farmers are doing that." Scholz had stated that anger was being "deliberately stirred up". Extremists would make any political compromise "contemptible".
Numerous farmers had already positioned themselves with their tractors in Berlin at the weekend. On Monday, they plan to take around half a dozen routes into the center of the capital from several directions and gather on Strasse des 17. Juni between the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate. In addition to the tractors, buses and trucks are expected to travel to the rally. Freight forwarders and tradesmen are also supporting the protest.
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