Greens insist on agricultural structure law in Saxony coalition

The Greens are insisting on the agricultural structure law jointly agreed in the Saxony coalition and want to put it to a vote in the state parliament in May. Agriculture Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens) reminded the parliament on Wednesday that the rejection of the law announced by the CDU/CSU would be tantamount to breaking the coalition. The law was urgently needed to prevent the sell-out of agricultural land to capital investors and food corporations.

If the CDU wanted to change the content of the law, it had to make this clear now, Günther emphasized: "We need this law." This was linked to a timetable, which is now being delayed by the CDU's actions. "Anyone who rejects this law is acting against the interests of farmers," said Volkmar Zschocke, spokesperson for agricultural policy in the Green parliamentary group in the state parliament.

The CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament rejected the planned agricultural structure law in its current version at its closed meeting last week and referred to the mood among farmers. The majority of farmers' associations reject the law, which is why they do not want to make a "decision against the associations".

Günther clarified once again on Wednesday that the draft law had been discussed and adapted several times with the associations with the participation of the CDU. There were also no outstanding issues during the coordination rounds. The law offers protection for all farm sizes and only imposes restrictions on those who want to speculate with agricultural land. Only some of the associations are opposed to the law and the discussions about it are taking place right through the associations. The law is of cross-party interest and not a matter for the Greens.