As soon as the traffic lights agreed on the subsidy cuts in the agricultural sector, the alliance partners backed away from their own decisions under the influence of the farmers’ protests. The SPD parliamentary group leader now even sees the ability to govern as a threat.
Cem Özdemir already knew that things were going to get tough. “The next few weeks, the next months – they will be tough,” he shouted to his Greens at the recent party conference, in view of the federal government’s austerity package. But the Federal Minister of Agriculture did not expect so much headwind. This Monday, Özdemir stands on a small, drafty stage in front of the Brandenburg Gate and looks out at 1,500 tractors. The farmers’ officials made him wait a full 75 minutes for his appearance. And even now, when it’s his turn, he can’t be heard. Dozens of tractors honk, sirens wail, farmers boo until their association president ensures calm: “We should let the minister finish,” says Joachim Rukwied.