The protest, which Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck witnessed firsthand on a North Sea ferry and which caused a stir in German domestic politics, was just the beginning. As reported, German farmers will start their national protest week on Monday. While the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany encourages its supporters to take part in planned blockades, the farmers’ association warns right-wing groups not to infiltrate the demonstrations.
“We don’t want right-wing and other radical groups at our demos,” association chairman Joachim Rukwied told the newspaper “Bild am Sonntag”. “We are Democrats, and if there is a political change, it will happen by voting in the voting booth,” he added, referring to subversive statements by right-wing groups.
On Thursday evening, an angry crowd of farmers prevented Habeck, who is also Minister of Economic Affairs, from leaving a ferry in Schlüttsiel (Schleswig-Holstein). For safety reasons, the ferry had to leave again and return to the island of Hallig Hooge.
Demo participant denies violence: ‘Situation was calm’
In addition to Habeck, there were numerous other passengers on board – including families. They described their fear of the angry crowd, who probably also wanted to storm the ferry. However, the farmers present later emphasized that the situation was much less dramatic than these eyewitnesses had reported.
A rally participant told welt.de on Sunday: “The situation on site was calm and relaxed until the ferry left. You really should say that.’ There were also long negotiations with the police about whether it would be possible to equip the minister with a megaphone so that he could explain to the crowd. But this was rejected. As the ferry pulled back, some protesters on a jetty began pushing forward. So there can be no question of attempted storming or violence. Another farmer sees it the same way in this video published on X:
Söder ‘understands’ the farmers’ protests
The farmers’ association has called for tractor demonstrations in various parts of Germany next week, which could lead to traffic jams. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) distanced himself from “radical attacks”, but expressed “understanding and solidarity” for the farmers’ protests. “The agricultural diesel refund and the tax exemption for agricultural vehicles should be fully maintained,” said a statement from the regional group CSU in the German Bundestag.
Source: Krone
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