In Berlin, hundreds of protesting farmers brought tractors to the Brandenburg Gate

Germany 19.12.2023

Source: tass.ru

Hundreds of farmers from all over Germany blocked a street in the center of Berlin using tractors. As a TASS correspondent reports, the action was agreed upon with the authorities of the German capital - it is being held as a protest against the planned abolition of tax benefits.

In Berlin, hundreds of protesting farmers brought tractors to the Brandenburg Gate

According to the Berlin police, about 3 thousand people are participating in the action, and “several hundred” pieces of agricultural equipment are involved. As a TASS correspondent was convinced, hundreds of tractors were parked one after another for several kilometers - fr om the Brandenburg Gate along the street on June 17th.

The German government was previously forced to look for budget savings for the next year. This became necessary after the verdict of the Federal Constitutional Court, which prohibited spending 60 billion euros from the budget. A number of savings have affected farmers, who will lose discounts on diesel and tax breaks next year. According to estimates by the German Ministry of Finance, this measure will help save the budget 480 million euros annually.

The protest takes place right in front of one of the symbols of Berlin - the Brandenburg Gate, wh ere there is a stage from which the organizers speak. Many farmers climbed onto the roofs of their vehicles, chanting slogans and holding banners demanding not to cut benefits. “If they (the German authorities - TASS note) destroy our industry, then they will have to import everything - from eggs and milk to rapeseed and potatoes,” one of the farmers who arrived from the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea told reporters.

The head of the German Farmers' Union, Joachim Rukwid, previously stated that agricultural producers “do not intend to put up with” such cost-saving measures. According to him, if the authorities do not abandon their plans, then from January 2024, industry representatives will begin mass protests.

On the political plane, the situation threatens potential disagreements between the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Ozdemir, and the head of the Ministry of Finance, Christian Lindner. Ozdemir has already called several times to prevent unnecessary burden on farmers and called on his government colleague to find alternative measures to save budget funds.