Saxony's farmers' association wants to stop the blockades at highway entrances and important roads for the time being. The week of action, including the demonstration in Dresden on Wednesday, was a great success, said farmers' president Torsten Krawczyk on Friday in Limbach-Oberfrohna. On Monday, thousands of farmers from Saxony will now travel to the big rally in Berlin. After that, the politicians must be given time to deliver acceptable results. The association is therefore not planning any further such actions until the beginning of February.
The farmers' anger has been sparked by planned cuts to subsidies. The German government wants to gradually abolish preferential treatment for agricultural diesel. In protest, they have been setting up blockades with their tractors in many places since the beginning of the week. The fact that the traffic light coalition has withdrawn some of its plans for cuts is not enough for the farmers.
Krawczyk explained that the farmers' association would submit compromise proposals. For example, savings could be made in areas of development aid, but also in investment programs for agriculture - for example in the conversion of animal husbandry.
On Monday, the state farmers' association expects 1000 to 2000 vehicles to make their way from Saxony to Berlin to express their displeasure at the large demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate. After the week of action, however, the population, especially in rural areas, should not be put under any further strain. Krawczyk emphasized that these people are not the actual target of the criticism. In addition, the high level of approval and support for farmers among the population should not be jeopardized.
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