BERLIN “The republic is dying, and its murderer is the government!”
“Rather death than slavery!”
“All the machines will stop if the government wants it!”
“The government is chasing us!”
There are wild claims on the signs and sheets of the demonstrators. Straße des 17. Juni, a street in the center of Berlin, has been blocked all week. Farmers, craftsmen and transport entrepreneurs are on duty in their vehicles next to the administrative blocks.
The protesters, at least in Berlin, have clearly agreed among themselves that traditional media journalists will not be given comments. They smile kindly and offer noodle soup, but turn their backs to the camera.
Only the official speakers are allowed to speak – although they were in their hotel rooms on Tuesday afternoon when visited the place with a television camera.
Finally, a young farmer from Brandenburg Tim Oetker agrees to an interview. His main goal is to replace the current “traffic light government” formed by the Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals.
The government plans to make savings in the budget, and it plans to cut subsidies for diesel fuel from farmers.
– This is my third time at a demonstration in Berlin, and we have demonstrated in my home region as well.
Oetker is grateful to Berliners who have brought food and drink to the protesters.
– We are well taken care of, he says.
It’s true: there are a lot of clappers and wavers along the street, who, for example, are not seen at all when climate activists are blocking the streets.
The rope tightens when you have to save
Germany’s political leadership is in sync with the budget for the year that has started. Chancellor By Olaf Scholz the government led by
The background is a weak general economic situation, but above all, belt-tightening is forced by the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court from November.
At that time, the court stated that the government violated the constitution when it transferred 60 billion euros of funds reserved for the corona pandemic to a new climate fund.
The decision of the Constitutional Court led to the fact that the government had to immediately freeze the investment plans of the more than 200 billion climate fund. A 60 billion euro hole popped into the state finances this year.
That means big savings. The amount corresponds to the entire annual budget of the Finnish government.
Like the yellow vests of France
The cheese grater also hits agriculture, but more lightly than originally thought. The government’s intention was to get both tax subsidies for machine purchases and diesel price reductions from farmers.
Due to opposition, the government backed away from its original intentions. The diesel tax benefit will only be phased out over three years to give farmers time to adjust. This information does not affect the tax support for machines.
The average German farmer does not have any acute financial problems. On the contrary, farm results improved last year and farmers’ satisfaction with their own finances is almost ten years old at its height. The demonstrators’ tractors are new and big.
The background of the protest mood is a wider structural change. Farm sizes are growing, large companies are taking over the industry and the future of small farmers looks bleak. The industry no longer attracts young people.
Protests are also accelerated by general politics. Farmers often vote for right-wing conservatives, and the composition of the current government does not please them.
For example in Dresden On Wednesday, the farmers’ leadership demanded more freedom and fewer demands on farmers, but also changes to the social, immigration and energy policies of the current government.
Atmosphere resemble From the French yellow vest movement. Demonstrators are bullied by rising fuel prices and the symbolism is fierce. After the first day, Monday, the protesters agreed to leave the most violent performances, such as the gallows, at home.
Demonstrators are on duty in traffic near government buildings in various parts of Germany, in the same way as yellow vests are at roundabouts in France. The yellow vest movement was at its most intense in France in 2018, but it has since waned.
General politics is annoying
Especially the green ministers are critics in Germany in the teeth.
Hundreds of angry farmers blocked the economy minister a week ago by Robert Habeck access from the ferry out when he returns from Christmas vacation. The situation became dangerous and the police had to use pepper spray.
Conservative Germans believe that striving for climate goals is the cause of the Greens. Germany plans to become climate neutral in 2040, and the government will have to make reforms to reach the goals.
This week’s demonstrations by farmers, transport companies and artisans have also been embarrassed extremist movements supporters. In East Germany, the far-right Free Saxons group has been on the street every day.
The tractor lines in Berlin have seen both the flags of the former East German GDR and the emblems of the far-right Vaihtoehto Saksalle party. In addition to agriculture, corona and asylum policies have been discussed in fire speeches.
Today, Thursday, for example, 1,500 tractors are heading to the center of Frankfurt, according to media reports. The week of action will culminate in a large demonstration in Berlin next Monday. The organizers even speak about the general strike.
Does the situation of EU farmers make you think? You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on Friday evening.