2024-01-14 12:51:00
The mayors and heads of communities of the Schleswig-Flensburg region, Schleswig-Holstein, wrote an open letter expressing solidarity with the protesting farmers, the Apollo News portal reported on Saturday, January 13.
The letter was addressed to the German government, the Association of Municipalities of Schleswig-Holstein, as well as three members of the Bundestag from the Schleswig-Flensburg constituency. It is noteworthy that one of the three parliamentarians is the Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Ministry of Economy Robert Habeckwho began his political career in the region.
In their address, officials emphasize the importance of farmers and agricultural machinery in rural life, especially in providing fire protection.
As burgomasters and heads of settlements note, when it comes to municipal work, farmers offer qualified and cost-effective assistance and services using their equipment.
“Farmers help selflessly, especially during natural disasters. And this is necessary because, due to cuts in civil defense spending, they are the only ones, other than fire brigades, who can still help citizens in rural areas,” the letter says.
In addition to expressing solidarity with farmers, the authors of the appeal also criticized a number of inconsistent measures of the federal government. The message, in particular, indicates that after the flood that affected the Baltic coast of Germany, in October 2023, the German government refused to provide assistance for the repair and strengthening of dams. At the same time, official Berlin sent India more than 10 billion euros as part of measures to combat the consequences of climate change.
Local government officials also criticized the fact that Germany has invested more than 32 million euros to build a high-speed rail line in China, while similar infrastructure projects in Germany are delayed every year.
“This letter confirms only one thing: the farmers’ protests are developing into a general protest against the policies of the German government. Since farmers took to the streets, more and more mistakes by the authorities in Germany have become the subject of open debate,” the portal notes.
In Germany, nationwide protests continue among farmers dissatisfied with government plans to cut diesel fuel benefits and restore a transport tax on agricultural machinery. The largest demonstration involving hundreds of tractors and combines is planned for Monday in Berlin’s government quarter. The head of the Ministry of Finance is expected to speak during the protest Christiana Lindner. At the same time, the Bundestag will host a meeting of the heads of parliamentary factions that are part of the ruling coalition with representatives of leading farmer associations.
Previously Chairman of the Christian Social Union (CSU), Prime Minister Markus Soeder and vice-chairman of the CDU/CSU opposition faction in the Bundestag Jens Spahn supported the demands of the demonstrators, calling on the German government to abandon its original plans.
“Reducing subsidies is a one-sided measure that is detrimental to agriculture. This measure is inappropriate, because agriculture makes a huge contribution to the development of our country. It would be better if the German government admitted its mistake,” Soeder said on Sunday on Deutschlandfunk radio.
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