The German farmers are not negotiating with a government who is supposed to represent their interests. No, the farmers are telling their elected officials what they will accept, and what they will not accept. And this approach has the German government in fits of apoplexy…. The farmers are revolting.
[Background Here] The second week of massive protests in the streets of Germany has the overwhelming majority of the people in support of the farmers. However, to show just how large the gap between the people and their government has become, the German officials think a process of negotiating terms is possible. The farmers are having none of that.
Really, this is awesome to see. The Dutch farmers are in full support and truckers from around the EU are aligned with the German farmers. The simple message is “enough is enough” and there are more EU interests that just the German government paying attention. Keep in mind, the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos began today.
GERMANY – Farmers clogged Berlin streets with their tractors on Monday, honking their horns in protest at a plan to scrap tax breaks on the diesel they use, the climax of a week of protests that has tapped into wider discontent with Germany’s government.
Columns of tractors rolled into the capital ahead of the demonstration at the landmark Brandenburg Gate. Over the past week, farmers have blocked highway entrances and slowed traffic across Germany with their protests, intent on pushing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government to abandon the planned cuts entirely.
“Take back the proposed tax increases, then we’ll pull back,” said the chairman of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied. He said the demonstration sent a message to politicians that “too much is too much.”
“We are an important part of Germany — please don’t forget that,” he said.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner was greeted with boos, whistles and chants of “Get lost” as he defended the government’s revised plan. He conceded that the original proposal “was too much and it was too fast” and said the protests were legitimate and peaceful. (read more)