There will be a large demonstration by farmers in Berlin today against rising fuel prices. They demand that agricultural diesel subsidies and vehicle tax exemptions remain. Otherwise, they announced “massive resistance”.
The German Farmers Association has called for a demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin from 11am today. Under the motto “Too much is too much! Now it's over!” Farmers – including those who own tractors – want to protest against the abolition of the agricultural diesel subsidy and the vehicle tax exemption planned by the traffic light coalition – and, ultimately, against rising fuel prices.
The farmers' association demands that the government withdraw the plans. If this does not happen, there will be “massive resistance” from January onwards, said farmers’ president Joachim Rukwied: “We will not tolerate this”.
The government justified the plans by reducing climate-damaging subsidies. They are part of the budgetary consolidation following the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court.
Özdemir sees “pain threshold exceeded”
Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir is also expected to speak at the rally. He criticized the government's plans.
In the morning magazine ARD, the Green politician said he was not against savings, but understood farmers' concerns. The cuts burdened the sector. The “pain limits” were “exceeded”, especially because “there is no alternative” to agricultural diesel. You can't just convert heavy machinery into electrical energy. Özdemir also warned of a competitive disadvantage compared to other countries.
At Rede Editorial Germany (RND), the minister called on the coalition to reconsider the elimination that had been decided.
Lindner “open to alternatives”
Finance Minister Christian Lindner had already signaled his willingness to talk. “I’m open to alternatives,” he told RND on Saturday.
According to industry information, the profitability of agriculture has improved recently. In the 2022/23 financial year ending at the end of June, average company profits rose to a record level of €115,400 – a 45 percent increase on the previous year. Taking into account the fall in the prices of cereals, oilseeds and milk, the farmers' association had already expressed pessimism about new business prospects before the traffic light plans were announced.
Birthe Sönnichsen, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, December 18, 2023, 5:46 am