Thousands of tractors block Berlin traffic over plans to end diesel subsidy
Al Jazeera
Farmers gather in German capital to join a giant rally demanding a rethink of the government’s plans to tax them more.
Thousands of German farmers, truck drivers and agricultural workers have gathered with tractors and other heavy equipment in front of Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate for another demonstration by farmers angry at the government’s plans to end tax breaks on diesel.
Police on Monday estimated that at least 3,000 tractors had already arrived for the protest and an estimated 2,000 more were on the way in a climax to their weeklong protests.
The tractors blocked traffic in parts of the city and Berlin’s public transit agency reported major service delays. About 10,000 people had registered for the demonstrations against Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s plans to cut subsidies, but Berlin police expect even more to attend.
A total of 1,300 police officers have been deployed to accompany the farmer protests, Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik told city leaders on Monday.
In addition to representatives of the farmers’ association and trade unions, Finance Minister Christian Lindner is also expected to address the protesters.
