German government suffering from lowest approval ratings retains agricultural subsidy cuts despite week-long farmer protests Premium

Farmers across Germany protest against agricultural subsidy cuts, blocking busy streets in Berlin with tractors and trucks.

Strasse des 17 Juni is one of the busiest streets in Berlin, with a straight road connecting the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column. But from January 8 to 15, this road was blocked by tractors and trucks, most sporting anti-government slogans. Farmers across Germany protested against the German coalition government’s removal of agricultural subsidies. The protest reached its climax on a chilly day in Berlin, which saw the participation of over 6,000 vehicles according to the Berlin Police, that converged at the Brandenburg Gate.

The protest, organized by the German Farmers Association (DBV), took place all over Germany, with decentralized demonstrations in every German state, some even blocking arterial roads over the week. Small business owners, freight carriers, truck drivers, and other agriculture-related businesses joined the farmers in solidarity in Berlin, where demonstrator numbers crossed 30,000.

Point of contention

The central point of contention for the protesting farmers was the German government’s plan, in late December 2023, to cut certain agricultural subsidies. The cuts include subsidies on diesel use by farmers and tax breaks on farming vehicles. Following a similar protest in December, the German government plans to enforce diesel subsidy cuts in a staggered manner till 2026.

Tobias Werstermann, a pig farmer from Berlin’s neighbouring state, Brandenburg, camped in a shared trailer, on this busy Berlin thoroughfare with farmer colleagues from other states, despite temperatures falling to -8 degrees Celcius on many nights.

“The diesel subsidy has been extended till 2026, but the tax breaks on farming vehicles are still high. Even for small farms, that can cost us a lot of money,” said Mr. Werstermann.

‘Lazy compromise’