Farmers block roads across Germany to protest against subsidy cuts
Al JazeeraDec 30, 2023
German Protests: 10K Farmers, 5K Tractors Gather in Berlin
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Image copyright: Maryam Majd/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
On Monday, an estimated 10K farmers and 5K tractors and trucks gathered in Berlin as weeks-long protests against Germany's plans to abolish farming car and diesel tax breaks continued.
Last month, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government proposed eliminating tax breaks for the purchase of agricultural equipment and scrapping diesel fuel subsidies after Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled in November that COVID funds couldn't be redistributed to other areas. Therefore, the government had to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending.
The Spin
Left narrative
A dangerous, far-right backlash is sweeping Germany, and these farmers’ protests are part of a broader anti-government movement. While some of the people protesting may be earnest farmers upset about specific agricultural policies, there are many right-wing actors who are exploiting anger and promoting dangerous ideologies.
Right narrative
Germany’s left-wing globalist government continues to show that it doesn’t value its farmers — or even its workers in general. Elitist leaders have looked down on the working class, labeling them as right-wing extremists, for far too long. As Olaf Scholz’s coalition grows weaker by the day, Germans are desperate for an alternative party that puts their interests first.
