Germany protests bring country to a halt as far-right spots an opening

Berlin, Germany
CNN
 — 

Farmers across Germany have been bringing major roads to a standstill in protests in recent days, piling misery on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition amid fury over subsidy cuts.

The protests are expected to reach new heights on Monday, with a crowd of over 10,000 people and their tractors set to descend on the capital in a rally organized in conjunction with the German freight industry.

Multiple other protests are planned across the country, which come as official data showed Germany’s economy shrank last year for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, many are warning that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is capitalizing on the chaos for its own political gain.

In the shadow of Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, a convoy of up to 500 tractors lined up every day last week in freezing pre-dawn temperatures.

To keep themselves warm, farmers lit fires and drank hot mugs of tea and coffee.

Major road blockages have stretched across cities from east to west including Hamburg, Cologne, Bremen, Nuremberg and Munich – with up to 2,000 tractors registered for each protest. Images showed convoys of tractors and trucks, some with protest banners, blocking German roads from the early-morning hours.

Outside cities, Germany’s fast-moving motorways have also been targeted by protesters, severely disrupting the flow of traffic.

Farmers are enraged about government austerity plans, which would cut tax breaks for agriculture.

Protesters on Monday booed German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, as he tried to tell them, “I hear you, and this is an impressive scene.”

At one point, Lindner was interrupted by the president of the farmers union Joachim Rukwied, who urged the crowd to listen to the minister.

CNN has spoken to farmers on the ground, who warned the new economic measures will drive them out of business.

Martin, a farmer from Rügen who is protesting in Berlin, spoke to CNN’s team on the ground.

“I am here to protest for a new election in this country, because we are in difficulties with our government. They don’t hear us, they make regulations that harm every one of us, not only the farmers but everyone in this country. And we think enough is enough.”

Steven, a farmer from Western Pomerania who did not give his last name, said: “All the farmers standing here are worried about their livelihoods, about the livelihoods of farmers… This will only stop if the government resigns and there are other solutions.”

Scholz’s government sparked a backlash in December when it made unexpected changes to a 2024 budget draft, modifying some of its planned subsidy cuts on January 4. Farmers say this doesn’t go far enough, however, and are calling for a complete reversal.

Germany’s AfD party has increasingly made its presence felt at this week’s demonstrations.

Some of the tractors have been adorned with AfD posters, reading “Our farmers first” and “Germany needs new elections.” Far-right supporters wearing AfD vests could also be seen standing next to the vehicles.

On social media, the AfD’s official Facebook page has been reposting images from the…