At the farmers' demonstration in Berlin, Finance Minister Lindner is booed mercilessly. Not even a conversation with the traffic light factions leads to an agreement.

Protest in Berlin on January 15, 2024. For the driver, “the scourge of our country” are Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock Photo: Sebastián Gollnow/dpa

The real willingness of some farmers to engage in dialogue was demonstrated at Monday's demonstration in Berlin: From the moment he took the podium, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner was loudly insulted and booed. Even after farmers' association president Joachim Rukwied urged the crowd to “be calmer.”

“Democracy involves discussion and listening is part of it,” Rukwied said, but the whistling and honking did not stop. Lindner had to shout to make himself heard. However, the FDP politician could barely be heard a few hundred meters from the Brandenburg Gate stage.

Much of the approximately 8,500 participants in the agriculture and transportation industry demonstration against the federal government's austerity plans obviously didn't care. They preferred to shout “Get out!”, “You have to go through the traffic light” or “Liar”. Even as Lindner courted favor with farmers at the expense of “climate glue,” they continued to suffocate him.

The minister claimed that climate activists had painted the Brandenburg Gate and that farmers had “honoured” it. The media should warn against the infiltration of left-wing extremists into the climate movement, Lindner demanded after it emerged that right-wing extremists were taking advantage of farmers' protests. The hisses became especially loud when Lindner also used the Russian attack on Ukraine to justify why the federal government had to save money.

Vague promises

The Finance Minister didn't have much of a chance with the farmers because he didn't offer them much. His central demand is that they continue to receive a discount on the energy tax on agricultural diesel. “There should not and should not be any special sacrifice for agriculture,” Lindner said. “But everyone has to do their part.”

Air traffic will also be subject to a new tax in the future and there will be cuts to services for asylum seekers and citizen benefit recipients. State aid and VAT reduction for restoration would be put to an end. At the same time, he highlighted that 9 billion euros are allocated each year from Brussels and Berlin.

In addition, the federal government has withdrawn the initially planned elimination of the vehicle tax exemption for farmers and has postponed the removal of the agricultural diesel subsidy. “So their protest has already been successful,” Lindner said.

He made vague promises to farmers to fight overly strict environmental and animal welfare standards. “If agricultural diesel is phased out, the burden on businesses will have to be phased out,” he added. Lindner also rejected regulations requiring farmers to prioritize nature on part of their farmland if they want to receive subsidies. Income tax relief should also be examined if profits fluctuate significantly from year to year.

Rukwied means mood

Before Lindner's speech, peasant chief Rukwied fueled the atmosphere with his uncompromising attitude. “If we withdraw the tax increase proposals, then we will withdraw,” Rukwied told the traffic light coalition. As long as the austerity plans are not ruled out, the farmers, who have returned to Berlin-Mitte with thousands of tractors, will continue to exercise their right to demonstrate. The government needs to save on someone other than the middle class, artisans or farmers.

The farmers' representatives arrived too late for the subsequent exchange with the leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP parliamentary groups in the Bundestag, due to blocked roads. There was no convergence when it came to the agricultural diesel subsidy. However, there was agreement that a broader package was needed to give farmers planning security and prospects for the future.

According to the participants, the conversation also addressed the animal welfare tax and fairer conditions along the supply chain. The traffic light factions want to present a calendar with concrete steps on Thursday. “It is definitely not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of implementation,” says Theresa Schmidt, federal president of the German Rural Youth.

On Saturday, farmers want to demonstrate together with environmentalists in Berlin. “We expect 10,000 protesters on January 20, as in recent years,” said Inka Lange, spokesperson for the alliance, on Monday. “We are fed up.” She calls for greater protection of the environment and animals in agriculture, but also “producers who cover the costs and fair prices of the land.” Collaboration: Raoul Spada