Christian Lindner—Federal Minister of Finance and leader of the liberal Free Democratic Party—was booed and jeered when attempting to address farmers at their massive rally in Berlin Monday. Lindner prompted anger by saying that his government would “not be able to promise” that the sector could avoid future cuts as organisers attempted to calm the crowd from the stage.
Germany’s farmers are turning up the heat on the ruling coalition government, with approximately 10,000 protesters flooding central Berlin on Monday morning. Around 6000 vehicles, primarily tractors, were part of the demonstrations, with authorities attempting in vain to seal off Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, citing security and overcrowding concerns.
Policing authorities were caught out by the numbers in attendance, triple what they originally expected. Anticipating trouble, police checks on traffic heading into Berlin city centre ensured that vehicles containing raw manure to dump outside government buildings were impounded.
Farmers are up in arms against the green austerity planned by the ruling coalition, including cutbacks on diesel subsidies.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has hinted at government compromises—such as offering to maintain tax rebates on agricultural vehicles—but these have been rejected by farmers’ organisations.
Lindner’s FDP—the most junior partner of the governing traffic light coalition—has come out against the cuts amid cynical media attempts to paint the protestors as being manipulated by the ‘far right.’
