Lindner’s appeal to farmers: “Please turn back”

The mood is heated – not just within the traffic lights. At the FDP’s Epiphany meeting, the finance minister appealed to farmers to protest peacefully. But there is also pressure from other sides: environmental activists interrupted Lindner’s speech.

The FDP’s Epiphany meeting is a tradition, but this year the meeting is overshadowed by protests. A few farmers had gathered in front of the opera in Stuttgart. “The traffic light is red for the future of our farms,” one of the posters read. Meanwhile, in the hall, Finance Minister Christian Lindner appealed to farmers and called for peaceful protests.

“Don’t allow yourself to be infiltrated and exploited,” said Lindner. “You’re lost, please turn back.” Protest must be proportionate and within the framework of the democratic order. The blockade of Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck’s ferry was completely unacceptable.

“The damage to property, including the announced blockades, are disproportionate,” explained the FDP leader, referring to past protests and those announced for the coming week. As usual, there can only be one consequence here: “Breach of the peace, coercion, damage to property – these are cases for the public prosecutor.”

Agriculture bears responsibility for society

Agriculture is not an industry like any other, because it has something to do with basic supplies. “This society has a responsibility for agriculture. But agriculture also has a responsibility for this society,” emphasized Lindner.

The farmers’ protest was sparked by the federal government’s austerity plans in the agricultural sector. However, the initially planned abolition of the exemption from vehicle tax has now been cancelled. The subsidies for agricultural diesel are to be phased out gradually.

Agriculture is a “highly subsidized sector”. And the farmers would also have to make a contribution in order to be able to draw up the budget in accordance with the constitution. Farmers also received new subsidies, for example for electricity or stable renovations. Anyone who wants new subsidies must also be prepared to forego old subsidies, emphasized the FDP leader.

Activists protest in the opera hall

There were protests not only in front of the opera – also in the opera. Activists who had gained access to the opera interrupted Lindner’s speech. In the hall they unrolled a banner with the slogan: “Take people with you – climate protection can only be done in a socially just way.” Activists demand that the government must introduce climate money.

The finance minister reacted to the interruption and referred to the reduced CO2 emissions in Germany. He also said that if the Attac organization is now promoting climate money, this will be the first time that left-wing autonomous groups are in favor of the FDP’s election program.

Lindner defends remaining in coalition

Criticism is also coming from within our own ranks these days. In a member survey, the Liberals voted by a narrow majority to remain in the government coalition – around 52 to 48 percent. Lindner defended the work of the traffic light. “We decide more rightly than wrongly, because otherwise the FDP would not be part of this government,” said the Federal Finance Minister.

“What is pushing the mood in our country to a low point is the epochal changes,” emphasized the minister. Every government must face these. “No matter who governs, come who may, there is no escaping these realities.”

Djir-Sarai promotes liberals Economic policy

The FDP will use its participation in government to create the right framework conditions – for a solid budget policy, more competitiveness and a greater attractiveness of Germany as a business location, promised General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai. “We will deal with these questions – the others in the coalition will not.”

The FDP meeting in the Stuttgart Opera has a long tradition: Liberals from the southwest have been meeting in Stuttgart on Epiphany since 1866. The FDP traditionally uses the rally to determine its political position at the beginning of the year.