German Farmers' Association threatens further mass protests
The leader of the German Farmers' Association has threatened further protests from Monday if government plans to cut agricultural subsidies for diesel fuel are not reversed.
"We don't even need to ask the farmers. They keep calling and asking: 'Is anything moving? If nothing moves, we'll take to the streets again," Joachim Rukwied said on Thursday, ahead of a key government budget committee meeting scheduled for the evening.
Germany has seek weeks of protests by farmers, who have driven tractors and other farm equipment into cities. A mass demonstration in Berlin on Monday brought thousands of tractor-driving farmers into the centre of the capital city.
Rukwied, however, said the protests so far have only been "foreshadowing."
"If nothing changes, then there may be an eruption. From next Monday, if the budget adjustment meeting this evening does not produce a positive result in our opinion, we will continue with actions throughout Germany," said Rukwied.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government has proposed phasing out the fuel subsidy for the agricultural sector as part of their plan to raise additional revenue and close a large budget gap.
