As of: January 13, 2024 12:04 a.m
Thousands of farmers in the north also took part in the farmers’ protests against the traffic light coalition’s agricultural policy this week. They used tractors to paralyze traffic on highways and in cities. A large demonstration is planned for Monday in Berlin.
At the end of the protest week, the farmers’ association and its state organizations have called for a rally in the capital, to which thousands of participants are expected, including from northern Germany. The first farmers and their tractors gathered in the city on Friday evening. There were dozens of agricultural vehicles from the Brandenburg Gate to behind the Soviet Memorial at the Tiergarten. The protest is supported by the transport industry, truck drivers and freight forwarders. The demonstration is considered the climax of the wave of protests by farmers in recent days.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has announced that he will seek talks with farmers on Monday. According to his ministry, he wants to face the protesters at the Brandenburg Gate. In addition, the chairmen of the three traffic light factions in the Bundestag The farmers’ associations were invited to a discussion on Monday. The background is farmers’ demands on politicians to reverse the announced cuts in agricultural subsidies.
Lower Saxony: No major events on the weekend
After five days of blockades and protest trips, farmers have not announced any major actions for the weekend. There should be a silent protest in Lower Saxony. For this purpose, orange rotating lights will be switched on in the farms, as the rural people announced. It was said that the action was intended to send a signal to Berlin.
The Lüneburger Heide district association is also planning a final rally this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in Walsrode (Heidekreis district). The Leer district announced that a meeting had been registered in Weener from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Around 100 participants are expected. The Bremen Agricultural Association announced that an action was also planned in front of a supermarket in Bremen-Oberneuland today.
Further information
Schleswig-Holstein: More than 3,000 tractors in Kiel
On Friday – the fifth day of protest of the action week – thousands of farmers came together in Kiel after a rally. They took at least 3,100 tractors and other vehicles to the Schleswig-Holstein state capital took part in a protest trip, as a police spokeswoman said. This caused traffic to almost come to a standstill.
At the final rally on the parade ground, Schleswig-Holstein’s farmers’ association leader Klaus-Peter Lucht said that he expected politicians to bring about a change in agricultural policy that would benefit the competitiveness of agriculture. The Schleswig-Holstein Agriculture Minister Werner Schwarz (CDU) also expressed his displeasure at the rally. The cuts decided by the traffic light coalition are wrong.
Lower Saxony: 100 farmers gathered in Cuxhaven
Also in There were renewed protests in Lower Saxony on Friday. In the morning, around 100 farmers with tractors gathered at the motorway roundabout in Cuxhaven. According to the police, farmers also used tractors to block access to the Aldi warehouse in Weyhe (Diepholz district). The delivery and delivery of goods was only possible to a limited extent.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: border crossing blocked and sheep on B194
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, vehicle convoys from farmers in the Northwest Mecklenburg district are planned today. The first one goes in the early afternoon 1400 towards Schwerin and Gadebusch, a second one in the late afternoon to Rostock and back.
On Friday morning, the Linken border crossing was closed in both directions. The blockade was carried out by tractors, trucks and vans – on both the German and Polish sides. Several shepherds drove around 400 sheep south of Stralsund along the B194 to another paddock and back again.
Farmers protests