Thousands of farmers driving tractors block roads across Germany

Farmers driving tractors blocked roads in the centres of several German cities, including Berlin, to protest against plans to withdraw tax breaks.

German farmers began a week-long street blockade on Wednesday, with dozens of agricultural vehicles blocking roads in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Bremen, with about 2,000 tractors registered at each protest site.

"We are exercising our fundamental right to inform society that Germany needs a competitive agricultural sector. This is the only way to ensure high-quality domestic food supplies," said Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Farmers' Association.

Farmers began gathering at the Brandenberg Gate in central Berlin on the evening of January 7. Dozens of tractors and trucks then appeared on nearby streets, with drivers honking their horns in a show of defiance against the government. "We work 365 days a year, but we don't make enough money from our products," said Jenny Zerbin, a 34-year-old farmer who joined the protest.

Tractors and trucks on a street in central Berlin, Germany, on the morning of January 8. Photo: AFP — Tractors and trucks on a street in central Berlin, Germany, on the morning of January 8. Photo: *AFP*

Protesters also attempted to block access roads to motorways on the outskirts of several cities. German police reported traffic jams across the country. The government of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said all access roads to motorways were blocked.

Traffic disruptions were also reported in Germany's border areas with France, Poland and the Czech Republic.

German farmers have recently protested against the government’s plans to roll back tax breaks for the agricultural sector. Thousands of them took to the capital Berlin in December 2023, blocking roads with tractors and dumping fertilizer on the streets.

In response to farmers’ protests, the German government on January 4 decided to partially withdraw the plan. Accordingly, the policy of reducing vehicle taxes for the agricultural sector will be maintained, while diesel subsidies will be gradually reduced and then eliminated instead of being abolished immediately.

However, representatives of the German agricultural sector said the decision was not enough and called on the government to completely reverse the plan, which was made after the country's court ordered them to find ways to save the budget for 2024.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters, AFP )

Source link