Agriculture Minister Özdemir sees the dispute over agricultural diesel as just one reason for farmers’ anger. For decades things had been promised to farmers but not kept. Criticism comes from the Union.
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has criticized the previous government in view of the farmers’ protests. “The cart is so deep in the mud, to put it figuratively, that we should all work together and not do party politics as much as my predecessor did before,” said the Green politician Morning magazine from ARD and ZDF. He was obviously referring to the CDU politician Julia Klöckner, who headed the department from 2018 to 2021.
Due to the tight budget situation, the traffic light coalition wants to reduce the tax relief for agricultural diesel. After criticism from the agricultural lobby, it weakened the imminent cancellation and is only planning to reduce it in several steps. The federal government is completely abandoning the previously announced abolition of the vehicle tax exemption for agriculture.
“Of course I know that the farmers say that that’s not enough. But I don’t think it’s all about agricultural diesel,” said Özdemir. “Agricultural diesel alone did not trigger the anger, but what triggered the anger is that for decades the farmers were promised things by changing governments, which were then only partially kept or not kept at all.” The minister emphasized: “Farmers think in generations, we think in legislative periods – and that is the problem.”
Criticism from Union politicians
Klöckner commented in Morning magazine also on the situation of farmers: A policy must be made that has something to do with the reality of farmers. “They are demonstrating that they are not being saddled with a tax increase that is supposed to make them save disproportionately for this traffic light budget policy,” said Klöckner.
CSU General Secretary Martin Huber said that “the traffic light and Cem Özdemir alone are responsible for the farmers’ dissatisfaction.” Özdemir must ensure that the charges are withdrawn. “If he can’t do that, he should resign.” Before Klöckner, the CSU had appointed several agriculture ministers in the governments of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder accused the federal government of “unilaterally discriminating against agriculture”. The aim is probably to “destroy farmers’ livelihoods, reduce farm production in order to be dependent on foreign countries,” said the CSU boss. The federal government is endangering the future of Germany and Bavaria.
Lindner wants to speak at protests
A large protest rally by farmers in Berlin is planned for next Monday. The chairmen of the three traffic light factions in the Bundestag have already invited the leaders of the agricultural associations to a discussion on this day.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner also wants to face the protesting farmers at the beginning of next week. The FDP leader is scheduled to speak at a demonstration by the farmers’ association in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Monday afternoon, as the Finance Ministry announced.
The Bavarian Farmers’ Association is considering intensifying the protests. “We have so far refrained from blocking infrastructure, such as the food supply. But we will not simply allow several months’ income to be taken out of our pockets,” said the Bavarian farmers’ association president Günther Felßner to the “Augsburger Allgemeine”.
Wagenknecht expresses understanding for farmers
Sahra Wagenknecht called for the tax advantages for agricultural diesel to be retained in full. “Otherwise the protest should continue,” said Sahra Wagenknecht, chairwoman of the alliance and a former Left Party politician. She also demanded an apology from Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to the farmers. It is “outrageous that the farmers’ impressive week of protest ends without the Chancellor correcting his serious mistake.”
“Fridays for Future” also showed understanding for the situation of farmers and called for a sustainable agricultural policy from the federal government. The entire agriculture industry is in trouble, said climate protection movement spokesman Pit Terjung RBB. It will be “crushed” between trade and the agricultural industry. In addition, there has been an enormous dependence on subsidies for years.
“We are in this boat together”
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Ethics Council, Alena Buyx, urged a differentiated view of the current farmers’ protest. “Protest is always really important, it’s part of a democracy,” said Buyx Morning magazine. But infiltration by right-wing and anti-democratic groups worried her.
Buyx said she would like to see more respectful interaction during the current protests. “Ultimately, we are all in this boat of a society together,” says the medical ethicist from the Technical University of Munich.
“Anger and indignation are understandable, but they are not what will help,” said Buyx. Both state authorities and the media are called upon to contribute to a “certain moderation” instead of further whipping up emotions. Ultimately, however, each individual in the population is responsible for ensuring that “our democracy remains stable and strong and that we do not tear ourselves apart in disputes,” emphasized the chairwoman of the Ethics Council.
Oliver Neuroth, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, January 12, 2024 10:34 a.m