Thousands of farmers with tractors at rally in Dresden

Numerous farmers and supporters demonstrated against the federal government's austerity plans in Dresden on Wednesday. According to the Land schafft Verbindung association, around 4,000 tractors from surrounding cities drove to the Saxon state capital, and there were thousands of participants. The police did not want to name the number of participants when asked.

"However, it is a great challenge to position the many large vehicles," said a police spokesperson. The start was very peaceful. However, there were considerable traffic disruptions around Theaterplatz. Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) also plans to speak at the central rally.

The farmers' association had called for a week of action. On Monday, thousands of farmers, bus and truck drivers demonstrated in many regions of Germany. In Saxony, they blocked numerous highway ramps and marched into the cities with columns of tractors.

The farmers' protests are directed against planned subsidy cuts by the federal government. The plan is to gradually abolish tax breaks on agricultural diesel. The fact that the coalition government has withdrawn some of its plans for cuts is not enough for the Federal Farmers' Association.