Interior Minister Schuster defends farmers' protests

Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) has defended the protests of farmers against the planned cuts in subsidies. There is good cooperation, said the CDU politician on Tuesday in Dresden. It was a case of "pure democracy", said the minister. It was also not the case that the farmers' protests were being "permanently" infiltrated by right-wing groups. The farmers had clearly distanced themselves.

Schuster referred to peaceful protests by farmers in Dresden on Monday. At the same time, the far-right party "Free Saxony" had registered a demonstration. This was a separate event, not a demonstration by farmers, emphasized Schuster. The atmosphere was heated, with a handmade traffic light hanging from a hangman's knot.

Farmers' associations had distanced themselves in advance from actions planned by political actors from the right-wing spectrum in the wake of the farmers' protests.

Environment Minister Wolfram Günther also showed understanding for the protests. He said that there was agreement that climate-damaging subsidies needed to be reduced. At the same time, he criticized the German government's approach of making this decision "overnight without any process, discussion or consultation with the profession". "This is incomprehensible to me," said the Green politician. The farms should be given enough time to make the switch.

Further demonstrations by farmers are also planned for Wednesday, with Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) set to give a speech on Theaterplatz in Dresden.