Farmers protest in Germany against subsidy cuts: road blocking

Farmers across Germany began a week of widespread protests, blocking roads with tractors on Monday to express their dissatisfaction with plans to scrap farm subsidies. In parallel, the coalition government is seeking to improve its financial situation.

Photos show large convoys of tractors and trucks, some adorned with transparent banners reading "Farmers are the food, the future, there is nothing without us," on German roads in freezing temperatures. In Berlin, a row of tractors blocked the main street leading to the Brandenburg Gate. Police reports said numerous roads and highway exits were blocked across the country, causing severe traffic jams during rush hour.

Farmers have vowed to block key transport and logistics routes for this week, saying the removal of tax breaks would force many farms into bankruptcy.

The blockade coincides with a planned strike by the machinists' union later this week that could disrupt the country's roads and railways starting Wednesday. The head of the German farmers' association, Joachim Rukwid, asked the public for understanding in an interview with Stern magazine published on Monday.

"We don't want to lose the support and solidarity that we have received from a large part of the population," he said. However, he also noted that farmers "will not accept the planned tax increases for the agricultural sector."

He also warned against far-right activists who are using the protests to achieve their own goals. Authorities are monitoring the situation, and the issue is also of concern to Interior Secretary Nancy Feiser. Last week's farmer protests forced Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ostensibly rushing to complete a draft 2024 budget (which had been delayed by a court ruling), to make unexpected changes, including a change in plans to cut government subsidies for agriculture.

Instead of abruptly ending farm diesel tax breaks for farmers, the subsidy will be cut by 40% this year, 30% in 2025 and phased out entirely in 2026. The government also abandoned plans to abolish tax incentives for vehicles used in forestry and agriculture.

However, the German Farmers' Association said the changes are far from sufficient and they intend to continue protests this week. According to the media group RND, the head of the Ifo economics institute, Clemens Fuest, said that farmers are facing too much burden from the government's tax reform.

"Just because the industry may now be going through a good period after some difficult years does not mean that so much of the responsibility can be passed on to such a group," Fuest told an opposition party meeting on Sunday.