Berlin: Large demonstration by farmers against higher fuel prices

There will be a large demonstration by farmers in Berlin today against higher 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 11 a.m. today. Under the motto “Too much is too much! Now it’s over!” Farmers – including those with 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 higher fuel prices.

The farmers’ association is demanding that the government withdraw the plans. If that doesn’t happen, there will be “massive resistance” from January, said farmers’ president Joachim Rukwied: “We won’t put up with it.”

The government justified the plans by reducing climate-damaging subsidies. They are part of the budget consolidation following the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court.

Özdemir sees “pain threshold exceeded”

Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is also expected to speak at the rally. He was critical of the government’s plans.

In the ARD morning magazine The Green politician said that he was not against savings, but he understood the concerns of farmers. The cuts overwhelmed the sector. The “pain limits” have been “exceeded,” especially since there is “no alternative” to agricultural diesel. You can’t simply convert heavy machinery to electric power. Özdemir also warned of a competitive disadvantage compared to other countries.

In the Editorial Network Germany (RND), the minister called on the coalition to reconsider the deletion that had been decided.

Lindner “open to alternatives”

Finance Minister Christian Lindner had previously signaled his willingness to talk. “I’m open to alternatives,” he told the RND on Saturday.

According to industry information, the profitability of agriculture has recently improved. In the 2022/23 financial year that ended at the end of June, the average profit of the companies rose to a record level of 115,400 euros – an increase of 45 percent compared to the previous year. In view of falling prices for grain, oilseeds and milk, the farmers’ association had already expressed pessimism about further business prospects before the traffic light plans were announced.