Freight forwarders, butchers, hunters…
Who is involved in the farmers’ protests?
January 8, 2024, 1:14 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
It’s not just tractors that are obstructing traffic in many German cities today as part of the farmers’ association’s “Action Week”. Trucks of all kinds, concrete mixers and other construction vehicles as well as vans from craft businesses can be seen among the agricultural machines. Many groups and industries have joined the protest, which was initially sparked by planned subsidy cuts for farmers. Their demands are as broad as the field of participating groups and sectors. An overview:
farmers
The German Farmers’ Association (DBV) and the state farmers’ associations originally called for the “Action Week” that begins today – with a clear demand: the withdrawal of the planned abolition of tax advantages for farmers for diesel and vehicle tax. However, posters with inscriptions such as “The traffic light must go” and statements from participating farmers show that they are concerned about more, including prices for their products that are perceived as unfair and more and more regulations and requirements, especially for climate, environmental and and animal welfare.
Freight forwarders
The Federal Association of Road Haulage Logistics and Waste Management has called on the transport industry to take part in the protests and road blockades. The freight forwarders’ demands: relief from tolls and diesel fuel and more money for roads, bridges and parking spaces.
Handyman
Craftsmen from various industries have joined the protests in many places. However, there was no nationwide call for this. Accordingly, there is no catalog of demands, only statements from individual trade representatives. Unlike the farmers’ association, it is less about specific political decisions than about general economic policy issues. According to the Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung, the President of the Bavarian Craft Association, Franz Xaver Peteranderl, called for, among other things, a corporate tax reform, a reduction in bureaucracy and a reduction in non-wage labor costs. The traffic light coalition must return to a “business-friendly” policy, said Peteranderl.
Gastronomy, butcher, baker
According to announcements, restaurateurs will also join the protests by food artisans, such as butchers and bakers. These sectors are complaining primarily about the increase in VAT to 19 percent in the catering industry and about additional energy costs due to the abolition of gas and electricity price caps.
Construction industry
In many protests, the large construction vehicles are immediately noticeable alongside the tractors. However, there is no nationwide call for protest or uniform demands in the construction industry either. The construction industry has different concerns than the farmers, said the vice president of the Saxon construction industry association, Uwe Nostitz, according to the “Dresdner Neusten Nachrichten”. Like the farmers, she feels “left alone, offended and exploited by this federal government.” Conversations with federal politicians of “all stripes” had no consequences. “That’s why now is the time to take our displeasure with the blatant ignorance of this federal government to the streets,” said Nostitz. Housing construction in Germany in particular fell dramatically last year. The main reason is the rapidly rising interest rates and high costs, for which industry representatives blame the many rules and regulations for housing construction in Germany.
Hunter
The German Hunting Association (DJV) has also called on its members to take part in the farmers’ protests. “We show solidarity with farmers and foresters, all hunters are called upon to support the regionally organized, peaceful protests,” announced DJV President Helmut Dammann in a video that was distributed on social networks. In addition to supporting the farmers’ demands to receive their tax benefits, according to Dammann, the hunters’ protest is generally directed against “nonsensical agricultural and environmental policies.”
Political groups and parties
Even if the farmers’ association expressly distances itself from this, several right-wing and right-wing extremist actors have called for farmers to take part in the actions. The AfD Thuringia has even called a “general strike” against the federal and state governments for this Monday. The right-wing extremist party “Der III. Weg” and the “One Percent” network also spread calls to join the farmers. “The German Farmers’ Association strongly distances itself from idiots with subversive fantasies, radicals and other extreme fringe groups and weirdos who want to hijack our week of action and hijack our protest for their concerns,” says a statement from the farmers’ association about such attempts to infiltrate the protest actions .