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BERLIN

Disruption as farmers on 1,500 tractors protest in Berlin

Farmers from all over Germany descended on Berlin aboard more than 1,500 tractors on Monday in a protest against the government's planned budget cuts.

Published: 18 December 2023 10:32 CET
Farmers at a demonstration called by the German Farmers' Association in Berlin, with the sign: “Do you have to starve before you understand?”
Farmers at a demonstration called by the German Farmers' Association in Berlin in December, with the sign: 'Do you have to starve before you understand?' Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Fabian Sommer

Thousands of farmers were expected in the demonstration that involves hundreds of tractors driving to the landmark Brandenburg Gate for a rally around 11am.

The convoy caused disruption on the roads as tractors drove towards the centre of Berlin. 

Police said 6,600 people had joined the demonstration, while the German Farmers’ Association (DBV) put the number at between 8,000 and 10,000.

Police said traffic restrictions were expected all day Monday due to “several hundred tractors” in the city.  Police later said there were 1,500 tractors. 

A convoy with around 150 tractors came from the north of Germany early on Monday morning, a spokesman for the Farmers’ Association told Berlin broadcaster rbb. The farmers gathered there and then continued on the B5 to Berlin.

The protest is being held against the government’s plan to remove tax privileges and subsidies in the agriculture industry. 

The coalition, made up of the Social Democrats (SPD), Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, is planning to abolish tax breaks for farmers and get rid of the agricultural diesel subsidy as part of budget cuts following the top court ruling in November that upended spending plans. 

READ ALSO: How Germany plans to solve its budget crisis in 2024

The government has also said the measures should help protect the climate. 

Joachim Rukwied, president of the DBV, said the cuts would cost farmers more than one billion euros ($1.1 billion) per year.

“This is a declaration of war and we are taking up the fight,” he said.

However, Food and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir spoke at the protest, appearing to backtrack. 

“I know that you came to Berlin with a huge amount of anger,” said the Green politician. He added that cuts needed to be made following the court ruling – but not disproportionately in agriculture.

“I don’t believe in cuts on this scale,” said Özdemir. “That’s why I’m fighting in the cabinet to ensure that it doesn’t happen to this extent.”

The pro-business FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag said on Sunday that it would veto the plans to abolish tax breaks, signalling more cracks in the coalition.

“The FDP parliamentary group does not consider the heavy burden on agricultural businesses to be acceptable,” FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr told DPA. 

“Too often people talk about supposedly climate-damaging subsidies without looking at the social and economic consequences of abolishing them,” he added.

“Above all, our farmers need fair competitive conditions compared to other European countries,” Dürr said. “That is exactly what would be at risk if the plans were implemented.”

Finance Minister Christian Lindner had “therefore already confirmed that he can present alternatives to the government if the coalition partners agree”.

Germany’s highest court decided last month that the government had broken a constitutional debt rule when it transferred 60 billion euros earmarked for pandemic support to a climate fund.

The bombshell ruling blew a huge hole in spending plans and plunged Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-way coalition into turmoil.

After adopting an emergency budget for 2023, Scholz and his junior coalition partners battled for weeks before finally finding an agreement for 2024 last week.

READ ALSO: Flights to shampoo: How life will get more expensive in Germany in 2024

With reporting from AFP

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BERLIN

Warning of toxic smoke after fire breaks out at Berlin factory

More than 180 firefighters wearing protective suits were on Friday tackling a major blaze at a metal technology firm in Berlin's Lichterfelde area as authorities warned of toxic smoke.

Published: 3 May 2024 16:35 CEST
Warning of toxic smoke after fire breaks out at Berlin factory

The blaze broke out in the first floor of metal technology factory ‘Diehl Metal Applications’ on the Stichkanal in Lichterfelde, south-west Berlin around 10:30 am.

On Friday afternoon, a fire brigade spokesperson said an area of over 2,000 square metres was on fire in the four-storey building.

As of 5 pm, the fire was reportedly still not under control.

According to the spokesman, the fire had spread to the roof, with parts of the building collapsing.

As the company also stores and processes chemicals in various quantities, there are concerns over harmful fumes in the smoke. 

“We can confirm that chemicals are also burning in the building,” said the fire service. “Sulphuric acid and copper cyanide were stored there. There is a risk of hydrogen cyanide forming and rising into the air with the smoke.”

Hydrogen cyanide is a highly toxic substance.

The Berlin state government said that residents “in the affected areas of the toxic fumes caused by the fire” were warned through the NINA warning app at midday.

People walk in the area near the fire in Berlin on Friday. Residents have been urged to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

People walk in the area near the fire in Berlin on Friday. Residents have been urged to stay inside and keep their windows closed. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

The Berlin fire department also said on X that people in a large area of Berlin and the outskirts, shown on the map in this tweet, should keep their windows and doors closed, turn off air conditioning and avoid smoky areas. People have also been asked to avoid the area. It includes a large part of the Grunewald forest. 

According to a fire and rescue spokesperson, no injuries have been reported. 

Pupils and teachers from nearby schools have been sent home as a precaution, while several shops around the site have closed. 

The authority has requested the help of the in-house fire brigade from the firm Bayer, which is familiar with fighting against chemical fires, Berlin newspaper Tagesspeigel reported. 

Flames seen at the fire in Berlin's Lichterfelde on Friday.

Flames seen at the fire in Berlin’s Lichterfelde on Friday. Shops around the area closed. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

The cause of the fire has not yet been established. 

Some early reports suggested that the Diehl Metal location might also store defence products. According to a report by the New Voice of Ukraine, Diehl Defence, which manufactures weapons to be used in Ukraine, operates out of southern Germany and would not be affected by this fire.

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