In Germany, protesting farmers began to block autobahns

Since early morning, farmers have been blocking the A4, A13, A14 and A17 autobahns in the federal states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony on various sections. According to Focus online, three trucks blocked the A2 highway in the west of the country - in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Berlin, the 17th June Street is inaccessible to vehicles; a demonstration is planned there today - farmers plan to drive 300 tractors to the Brandenburg Gate.

The series of protests will last until January 15, when a major rally will take place in Berlin.

The German government was previously forced to seek budget savings for 2024. This became necessary after the verdict of the Federal Constitutional Court, which prohibited spending €60 billion from the budget. Some savings affected farmers, who were going to be deprived of discounts on diesel and tax breaks. According to estimates by the German Ministry of Finance, this measure would help save the budget €480 million annually.

Large-scale protests followed, with one on December 18 taking place at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. On January 4, it became known that the German Cabinet of Ministers decided to adjust its plans - benefits will not be canceled immediately, but gradually and not in full. This did not suit the farmers; they decided not to give up their protests.