As of: January 31, 2024, 4:36 p.m
Comments
Press
Split
Farmers stand on a bridge with tractors.
© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
Thuringia's farmers have emphasized their protest against cuts: They were on the road with several hundred tractors - hardly any motorway access remained open.
Erfurt - It was probably the largest protest action to date by Thuringian farmers against planned cuts in agricultural subsidies: Farmers were out and about in Thuringia on Wednesday with hundreds of tractors and other vehicles.
Almost every motorway entrance in the Free State was blocked by them, sometimes for several hours, said a spokesman for the state police department when asked in Erfurt.
On Wednesday afternoon, the blockade was cleared as announced - traffic returned to normal, according to the police.
The background for the campaign, which was supported by the Thuringian Farmers' Association, was the final budget discussions in the Bundestag in Berlin.
The traffic light coalition wants to gradually abolish tax breaks for farmers on agricultural diesel by 2026.
As in previous weeks, the farmers' association called on farmers to take peaceful action.
In addition, emergency lanes should be left open.
According to police, there were no major incidents, but there were massive traffic delays.
Drivers tried to avoid using federal and state roads.
There were traffic jams in many places.
The cities of Gera and Jena were mentioned, among others.
In Suhl, a driver entered the highway in the opposite direction - but luckily nothing happened, according to a police spokesman.
According to police information, for example, there were 95 tractors and other vehicles in the Suhl state police station area alone, at times there were 180 in the Gotha area, 100 in Erfurt and 78 in the Saalfeld area. Several tractors also drove up in front of the Thuringian state parliament in Erfurt shortly before the plenary session .
At the request of the CDU, the MPs dealt with the situation in agriculture in a current hour, but also with that of the freight forwarders and the federal government's cutback plans, which are rejected in Thuringia.
The Thuringian Farmers' Association explained that the blockades were intended to support the profession's existing demands.
The farmers are not only interested in reversing the agricultural diesel cut, but also in tax exemption for biofuels and in reducing bureaucracy.
There should be a “farmers camp” at the state parliament during the plenary session until Friday.
According to the farmers' association, it is about a constructive dialogue with the MPs.
dpa