In an open letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the German Farmers’ Union proposed a compromise on agricultural fuel subsidies. However, for many farmers who have been protesting for months, this is an unacceptable concession. Some even talk about betrayal.
- The German Farmers’ Union (DBV) wants to compromise with the government on diesel fuel for agriculture.
- In return, it demands that money be transferred from fuel subsidies to other agricultural support programs.
- Not all farmers in Germany accept these concessions. Many believe that the unions have damaged their trust and that months of protests are in vain – we read in Agrarheute.
Letter to the Chancellor
DBV President Joachim Rukwied sent an open letter to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which was also signed by the heads of other agricultural organizations. In it, the unions declare their readiness to give up on the issue of maintaining agricultural fuel subsidies, in exchange for transferring these funds, amounting to EUR 440 million per year, to other reliefs and activities supporting agriculture.
The unions proposed that the government spend this money on tax breaks, support for risk management on farms, a tax exemption for the use of non-fossil fuels in agriculture and a program to restore the competitiveness of German agriculture on the European market.
The headquarters are not farmers
Not all farmers and industry organizations liked the trade union headquarters’ compromise. For example, in Saxony-Anhalt, the LSV Farmers’ Association and Free Farmers accuse Joachim Rukwied of questioning the meaning and credibility of agricultural protests.
Have we taken to the streets for months and protested against excessive and unfair tax increases only to humbly give up now? – asks Martin Dippe from the Farmers’ Association of Saxony-Anhalt via the media.
Frerk Arfsten from the Free Farmers of Saxony-Anhalt, in turn, said that farmers should not retreat because their demands are fully justified, and the compromise proposed by Rukwied is only vague promises. The Saxony Farmers’ Association LSV and Free Farmers therefore maintain their demand to maintain the refund for diesel fuel.
Knife in the back
Trade unionists from this region believe that Rukwied had no right to act in such a way on behalf of all protesting farmers. All the more so because thanks to many months of protests, farmers have already shaken the position of the ruling coalition and won the support of the opposition. The CDU/CSU union linked its approval of the Growth Opportunities Act to the protection of agricultural diesel. This gave farmers a chance to win. According to Saxon agricultural activists, Rukwied also stabbed in the back those EU politicians who still support agriculture.
The decision was made behind my back
Joachim Rukwied explained in the media that he proposed a compromise, among others. for fear of escalation and radicalization of agricultural demonstrations. The problem is that these actions can bring exactly the opposite result. In social media, the trade union headquarters is accused of betraying farmers and making decisions behind their backs. Reports of repression against protesting farmers add fuel to the fire.
For example, the police detained a 43-year-old man from the Sigmaringen district, suspected of breaking the window of the car in which the government delegation including Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir arrived on February 14 at the meeting of the Greens in Bibery. Farmers also came there to protest. The detainee is charged with breach of peace, attempted grievous bodily harm, resisting and violating the inviolability of police officers, and destruction of property.
The final decision on the abolition of diesel fuel refunds for farmers in three stages by 2026 will be made by the Federal Council on March 22. The CDU/CSU union has repeatedly announced that it wants to thwart this plan, but the “Rukwieda letter” calls these declarations into question.
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