Germany's Scholz warns of extremists stoking rage as farmers protest and discontent is high

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for calm and a readiness to accept compromises as the country faces protests by farmers angry about a plan to cut their fuel subsidies. He warned of extremists stoking rage against a backdrop of wider discontent.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for calm and a readiness to accept compromises on January 13 as the country faces protests by farmers angry about a plan to cut their fuel subsidies. He warned of extremists stoking rage against a backdrop of wider discontent.

Farmers have blocked major roads and snarled traffic across the country with their tractors as part of a week of protests against the plan to scrap tax breaks on diesel used in agriculture. They went ahead with the demonstrations although the government watered down its original plan, saying that a car tax exemption for farming vehicles would be retained and the cuts in the diesel tax breaks would be staggered over three years.

The German chancellor said in a video message that “we took the farmers' arguments to heart” and insisted the government came up with “a good compromise,” though farmers continue to insist on fully reversing the subsidy cuts. He also said officials will discuss “what else we can do so that agriculture has a good future.”

The plan to scrap the tax breaks resulted from the need to fill a large hole in the 2024 budget. The farmers' protests come at a time of deep general discontent with the centre-left Mr. Scholz's three-party government, which has become notorious for frequent public squabbles. Mr. Scholz acknowledged concerns that go well beyond farming subsidies, saying that crises, conflicts and worries about the future are unsettling people.

“Arguments belong to democracy,” Mr. Scholz said. “But I know, including from personal experience of recent months, that arguments can wear people down and stoke uncertainty. We must improve this year.”

Mr. Scholz added that compromises are also an essential part of democracy. But now, he said, “rage is being stoked deliberately; with a gigantic reach, extremists are decrying every compromise, including on social media, and poisoning every democratic debate.”

“This is a toxic mixture that must concern us, which very much preoccupies me too,” he said.