Farmer protests continue in Germany

Germany has long been considered the powerhouse of Europe. But with crippling strikes by rail workers angry over pay and working conditions paralysing the country, combined with an eight-day nationwide protest by farmers, it is fast becoming the 'sick man of Europe'.

Germany's problems are compounded by the fact it is being governed by a three-party coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz that is failing to agree on anything, bringing inertia that is playing into the hands of the extremist AfD party, Daily Mail reports.

The indecision, in-fighting and finger-pointing over the crippling strikes, protests and on-going immigration concerns during 'Germany's winter of discontent' has led analysts to predict the far-Right to make huge gains in the election later this year.

Ex-pat David Young, who lives in Dusseldorf, sums up the anger and frustration of those living in Germany who are exasperated by the strikes.

'When the tractors blocked the city, it was chaos,' he said. 'There is still some sympathy for the farmers, but very few people have any support for the rail strikes.

'They are on a good deal, and what they want seems unreasonable. Unlike most workers they can retire at 63 rather than 67 so the people I talk to don't feel they have a bad deal.'

Lawyer Jakob Unger from Munich said the strikes would start to have a huge impact if they stretch over the coming months.

He said: 'If the rail strikes continue, there will be a lot of problems. So many people rely on the rail network, not just for work but to get around the country.

'It is so strange to see photos of empty platforms. If this goes on into February and March, the Government will be in trouble.'

This week the famed German rail network effectively ground to a halt with usual bustling rail hubs in Cologne, Berlin and Frankfurt deserted.

Those commuters who braved the freezing conditions stood waiting for up to an hour on a platform for one of the regional trains still running.

To make matters worse for those trying to get to work by car found the motorways blocked by striking farmers and lorry drivers.

And with doctors also threatening to go on strike next week Germany finds itself in the grip of winter of discontent which began when farmers brought major cities to a standstill with blockades and slow-moving convoys.

The farmers are protesting at the axing of fuel subsidies while the rail workers want a reduction in the number of hours they work – but without any pay cuts.

Joachim Rukwied, the president of the German farmers' association, said the country was being run by people who 'have never worked and never sweated.'

His members are adamant that they will not step back from the mass protests and after a week of chaos on the roads Chancellor Schloz agreed to a phased reduction in subsidies rather than stopping them immediately.

Scholz, who took over from Angela Merkel in 2021, said the cut backs are being implemented to save almost 1billion euros from the Government's budget.

But the policy splits within ruling coalition were highlighted by comments made by the agriculture minister Cem Ozdemir.

He warned the growing number of disputes show a 'dangerous divide' emerging in the country.

Ozdemir, who is a member of the Green Party, said people living in rural areas feel they are being left behind with all the decisions being taken by city dwellers with the accusation of a 'Berlin bubble' being out of touch with what the ordinary German wants.

The rail strikes which began on Wednesday have caused chaos for millions.

The network run by Deutsche Bahn effectively shut down all their services.

Claus Weselsky, leader of the GDL rail union, warned of further action once the three-day strike ends of Friday evening.

The union has a reduction in hours from 38 to 35 a week – but with no loss of pay.

Chancellor Schloz has been relying on the support of the coalition leaders Richarda Lang from the Greens and Federal Democrat leader Christian Durr to try and ride out the wave of strikes.

But since the disputes began the presence of far-Right and neo-Nazi groups at several farmers' protests has led to fears that the demonstrations could be hijacked by anti-government extremists.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are on a roll with polls showing a surge in support and the prospect that following the elections in November they could be handed power.

In 2023 under the leadership of Tini Chrupalla they capitalised on the unease at the high level of migration into the country which showed 350,000 people applying for asylum – an increase of 50% on the previous year.

Many communities across the country are struggling to house the migrants with Chancellor Scholz even admitting 'too many are coming.'

Manfred Güllner, director of the Forsa polling institute, said the wave of strikes was boosting support for the far-right (AfD) party.

Others such as The Third Way and the Free Saxons were also gaining traction.

Cardboard signs of the AfD hanging on tractors taking part in the protests read 'our farmers first' and 'Germany needs new elections.'

On social media, the controversial leader of the AfD in the Eastern German state of Thuringia, Björn Höcke, launched an appeal on his Facebook page: 'Fellow citizens, we will see you on the roads!'

The politician is classified as an extremist by Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

The AfD, which has been hitting record highs in polls and is currently scoring consistently above the three governing parties in the German government coalition, is hoping for major gains in three state elections this year.

Scholz has told the German people 'nobody should have any illusions' about the current situation.

Since the dispute began hundreds of angry farmers, who have crippled Berlin and other major cities, have shown no sign of letting up.

More than 1,500 are expected to cause chaos in Frankfurt today as they descend on the financial hub of the country.

The dispute, which its supporters are calling the 'week of courage', has affected all of the 16 federal states that make up Germany.

Unlike in the UK where strikes in 2023 became the norm, Germany has not experienced such a mass protest since the Second World War.

Political experts believe Scholz's centre left party will be able to cling to power but the longer the strikes cripple the country his grip on power weakens.

The main rail union are not in any mood to compromise.

Union leader Weselsjy said: 'If we get nothing by Friday, we'll take a break then enter the next round of industrial action. Cargo train drivers are also striking until Friday, leading to supply chain concerns, with almost one-fifth of German freight traffic transported via railway.

At a picket line at Cologne rail station Raymond Geisler, who has been working for DB since 2015 told a local news station new drivers are urgently needed.

'We can't just keep pushing existing staff to the maximum, we need intelligent solutions to fill this gap in the long term,' Geisler says.

'That only works if we make these jobs attractive.'