2024-01-29 13:14:57
By: FRANZISKA RINGLEBEN, HENNING SCHAFFNER, THOMAS FISCHER, SASCHA WIMMER AND MARTIN BRINCKMANN (PHOTOS)
Hamburg – Nothing works on the streets in Germany’s largest seaport anymore: everything is closed in the Hanseatic city!
Farmer Dirk Mente (49) from Lüchow-Dannenberg calls for a complete withdrawal of the additional burdens on farmers: “We see the port blockade as the only way that politicians can hear and see us.”
Photo: Henning Schaffner
They had planned a rally to Theodor-Heuss-Platz in downtown Hamburg, around 1,500 farmers on their tractors from five directions – under the motto “Against tax and bureaucracy madness”.
The police had warned in advance of significant traffic disruptions. But then everything turned out differently than planned: Huge columns of tractors and trucks made their way to the port and had been blocking the access roads to the terminals since early in the morning.
Standstill on the Köhlbrand Bridge
Photo: Martin Brinckmann
Around 100 farmers closed the Finkenwerder Ring unannounced, spread piles of dung on the street and lit a fire barrel. The Waltershof exit on the A7 motorway had to be closed in both directions due to the blockages. A police spokesman: “Many trucks are stuck in traffic jams, and there are also a few cars. There are massive traffic restrictions in the entire area.” There is a “very tense traffic situation” on all surrounding streets, including the Köhlbrand Bridge.
At 10:48 a.m. the police want to break up the meeting and ask the tractor drivers to remove their vehicles from the Waltershof junction. Without success.
Farmer Louis Schlenstedt (21) sees no future for German agriculture with the current government
Photo: Henning Schaffner
Farmer Dirk Mente (49) from Lüchow-Dannenberg told BILD: “We won’t let ourselves be driven out so quickly. We spontaneously decided to close the port. This is THE hub for food from all over the world. If nothing works here anymore, that will be a clear signal to our politicians.”
The farmers’ protest took place under the motto “Against tax and bureaucracy madness”.
Photo: Martin Brinckmann
And a clear sign of what they think of the federal government’s planned free trade agreement. For example, an agreement with New Zealand is planned that involves relevant quantities of lamb and beef. “There will be really large quantities of imported food,” says Mente.
What they want to trigger with their port blockade: extreme delays because goods cannot be brought to the container ships. Lying times that are massively extended. Standstill in the port.
Officials record the personal details of farmers who refuse to move their tractors
Photo: Henning Schaffner
The port and logistics group “HHLA” confirmed to BILD: “There are currently traffic jams and delays in the Hamburg port area due to the demonstrations, which means that some trucks are currently reaching the HHLA terminals late.”
The police are preparing to remove the tractors
Photo: Henning Schaffner
Meanwhile, handling at HHLA’s container terminals in Hamburg was not yet affected in the morning. “It will be adapted to the current situation. We are in close communication with the authorities, our customers and partners in order to keep any possible impact on handling at the terminal as low as possible,” it continued.
also read
▶ Since the beginning of the year, farmers nationwide have been protesting once morest the traffic light agricultural policy. The farmers’ anger is primarily directed once morest the abolition of tax breaks. But actually, a lot of frustration has been building up for years.
Farmer Jan Reinecke (24): “We make sure that Germany has something on its plate. The only question is, how much longer?!”
Photo: Henning Schaffner
Farmer Dirk Mente: “Politicians have to work with us and not once morest us. Bureaucracy must be abolished. We fight for survival, we fight for our children. I am the fourth generation to run my farm. If the traffic lights stay at the current course, it’s over for me.”
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