Starting Monday, farmers from northern Rhineland-Palatinate will take part in a nationwide protest week. The city of Koblenz has called on road users to avoid motorways and trips into the city area.
The city of Koblenz is asking road users to switch to country and federal roads on Monday morning if they want to go into the city. Because of the farmers’ protests, she expects over 2,000 tractors and 500 trucks in the greater Koblenz area and therefore recommends planning significantly more time for the journeys on Monday. Appointments should be rescheduled if possible. And working from home is also recommended.
Massive traffic disruptions are expected
The background is various calls for protests against the federal government’s austerity plans. Some of them have now been withdrawn. Nevertheless, farmers want to protest.
Although the traffic light government wants to partially withdraw its austerity plans, the farmers in RLP are sticking to their protest actions for next Monday.
The association “Agriculture Connects” (LSV) has announced that it wants to block the motorway entrances on the A3, the A48 and the A61 on Monday – from Montabaur first in the direction of Cologne to the Neustadt/Wied junction.
The farmers then want to drive in a convoy with their tractors in the opposite direction via Bendorf to Koblenz and on to Mainz. According to the information, farmers and shipping companies are taking part in the convoy. At the peak, up to 3,000 vehicles are expected, it is said.
Farmers’ and winegrowers’ association is critical of motorway blockades
The Rhineland-Nassau Farmers and Winegrowers Association says it does not support the LSV’s planned protests. Farmer President Horper said on Thursday in Koblenz that it would be unreasonable for road users if hundreds of kilometers of motorway were temporarily blocked. Nevertheless, the association reportedly tolerates the protests.
Several thousand tractors are said to be on the road in the region
The Rhineland-Nassau Farmers and Winegrowers Association in Koblenz is also planning its own protests. It’s going to be a “hot week,” they say. On Monday, the Farmers and Winegrowers Association called on farmers in all districts in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate to protest with tractors. Michael Horper, the president of the farmers’ association, said on Thursday afternoon in Koblenz that he expected that several thousand tractors would then be on the road in the region.
From Monday evening there will be a central protest rally at the castle in Koblenz. According to the city, farmers travel with their tractors from collection points to the city center. That’s why you count on Monday afternoon with severe traffic delays. The administration also points out that all tractors are parked in public parking areas or in the parking garages.
Protest actions – for example in Bad Ems, Neuwied and Montabaur
On Monday there will also be rallies by the farmers’ and winegrowers’ association in Montabaur, Plaidt, Cochem and Bad Ems, among others. In Neuwied, farmers want to meet in front of the district administration at 2 p.m. According to the city, the organizers have registered around 150 tractors. But there could also be more, especially since freight forwarders may also take part with their trucks.
The Neuwied city administration therefore assumes that there may be significant traffic disruptions in Neuwied from eleven o’clock until late afternoon on Monday morning.
Thousands of farmers in Rhineland-Palatinate want to take part in protests against the federal government’s austerity plans – although the traffic light coalition wants to accommodate them.
Westerwald farmers are also taking part in protests
According to their own information, the Westerwald farmers also want to hear a lot from themselves on Monday. As the farmers’ association reports, several actions are planned. The farmers first want to drive their tractors to Neuwied, Altenkirchen and Montabaur to take part in the rallies there. They then want to come together in Koblenz for the final rally at 6 p.m. on the castle forecourt.
Farmers in the Westerwald want to take part in the protest week.
SWR
Farmers protest until mid-January
According to the Farmers and Winegrowers Association, the rallies are only part of a planned week of action. There will be discussions with politicians all week long, for example at parties’ New Year’s receptions. The Westerwald farmers, for example, have announced that they will be present at the FDP’s New Year’s reception in Stöffelpark in Enspel next Friday. On Saturday there will be vigil fires in the three Westerwald districts.
The protest week ends on January 15th. Then, according to the information, the farmers from the Westerwald will travel together to Berlin to protest with farmers from all over Germany.
Farmers’ association sticks to protest actions
Michael Horper, the President of the Rhineland-Nassau Farmers and Winegrowers Association, is demanding that the federal government completely reverse the planned cuts in financial aid in agriculture. A government spokesman had announced that agricultural vehicles should remain tax-exempt – this fulfilled a demand from farmers. But that’s not enough, said Horper. The subsidization of agricultural diesel must also be maintained. They therefore want to stick to the planned protest week next week.