Farmers harass Habeck
Scholz sees “brutalization of political mores”
January 5, 2024, 7:51 a.m
Politicians are horrified: After angry farmers prevented Economics Minister Habeck from leaving a ferry, there was a hail of criticism. “Whether with climate stickers or with the farmers at the ferry port: violence and coercion are despicable,” writes Agriculture Minister Özdemir.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has described the blockade of the arrival of Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck by angry farmers at a ferry port as shameful. The action violated the rules of democratic coexistence, Scholz explained on Angry farmers had prevented a ferry from docking in Schlüttsiel in Schleswig-Holstein, with which Habeck wanted to return from vacation on Thursday.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was also critical. “Democracy thrives on tough contentious debate. Where words are replaced by rabble and arguments by violence, a democratic limit has been crossed,” wrote Baerbock on interact and argue with each other. “I always apply the same measures, whether with climate stickers or with the farmers at the ferry port: violence and coercion are despicable and also damage the cause.”
Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann from the FDP also condemned the incident, which discredited the concerns of many farmers who demonstrated peacefully. “Violence against people or property has no place in the political debate!” Environment Minister Steffi Lemke wrote on X that she now expects the German Farmers’ Association to clearly distance itself.
There was also criticism from the traditionally farmer-friendly CDU: Former Secretary General Paul Ziemiak explained on X that a limit was being crossed here. “Anyone who loudly criticizes the content of the traffic light must not remain silent now. It doesn’t work that way!”
A few hours earlier, the German Farmers’ Association had once again pointed out the farmers’ planned week of action on X and wrote: “It is clear to us: right-wing extremist groups, conspiracy theorists and other radicals have no place here.”
On Thursday, the federal government responded to the massive farmers’ protests over the planned reduction of subsidies: The coalition wants to forego the abolition of the vehicle tax exemption for agriculture. The abolition of tax relief for agricultural diesel should be extended and implemented in several steps. However, the German Farmers’ Association considers the measures to be inadequate – and is sticking to a week of action planned from Monday.