Economics Minister Habeck was prevented from leaving a ferry by farmers in Schlüttsiel, Schleswig-Holstein. He then had to return to the Hallig Hooge. The protest sparked sharp cross-party criticism.
Angry farmers prevented Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) from leaving a ferry in Schlüttsiel in Schleswig-Holstein. They blocked the pier, a police spokesman said. Habeck, who is also the Minister of Economic Affairs, therefore had to return to the Hallig Hooge. 25 to 30 people tried to prevent the ferry from leaving.
According to the police, there were more than a hundred demonstrators in total. Around 30 officers were on duty. They also used pepper spray, a police spokesman said. It is not known whether there were any injuries.
Ministry: Security situation didn’t allow conversation
A spokeswoman for Habeck said in the evening that the minister was happy to talk to the farmers. “Unfortunately, the security situation did not allow a conversation with all farmers, and the offer made by Minister Habeck to talk to individual farmers was unfortunately not accepted.”
According to police, the situation quickly calmed down once the ferry left. There were no reports that evening. “There is already a breach of the peace,” said a police spokesman when asked whether an investigation was still being carried out.
Federal Government: Blockade “shameful”
The federal government described the protest as shameful. “With all understanding for a lively protest culture, no one should care about such a brutalization of political mores,” wrote government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Platform , it was said.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) wrote on Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also spoke up on
“A radical minority with other plans”
Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) said in ARD morning magazine, he has great understanding “when our farmers put forward their position”. The federal government also listened and corrected its position. But the incident in Schlüttsiel is not about agriculture. “These are people (…) who have wet dreams of overthrows – and that won’t happen. To put it very clearly: This is not acceptable.” Özdemir emphasized that it was “not the German farmers” who appeared in Schlüttsiel, but rather a small, radical minority who had other plans. “I can only urge and ask everyone to clearly distance themselves from this.”
Former CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak explained on X that a limit was being crossed here. “Anyone who loudly criticizes the content of the traffic light must not remain silent now. It doesn’t work that way!”
Farmers’ association considers measures to be inadequate
Farmers have been outraged for weeks because of the traffic light coalition’s planned reduction in subsidies. On Thursday, the federal government responded to the massive farmers’ protests: The coalition wants to forego the abolition of the vehicle tax exemption for agriculture.
The abolition of the tax relief for agricultural diesel is to be extended and implemented in several steps, as the federal government spokesman announced in Berlin. However, the German Farmers’ Association considers the measures to be inadequate – and is sticking to a week of action planned from Monday.
Tim Aßmann, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, January 5th, 2024 7:57 a.m