In protest against the planned cuts to agro-subsidies, farmers plan to block 95 percent of all highway access roads in Saxony on Monday. The actions have been announced for a period from 5 am to 5 pm, said Robert Erdmann, spokesman for the "Land schafft Verbindung" association on Friday. At the same time, the farmers are distancing themselves from actions planned by actors such as the Free Saxons in the wake of the farmers' protests. "We have nothing to do with that," said Erdmann.
"In Saxony, we attach great importance to ensuring that everything we do is within a reasonable legal framework and is done in cooperation with the police," he said. The blockades of the highway ramps are registered demonstrations. The farmers see no other way to be heard by politicians.
Federal government as the target of the protests
"We will no longer put up with this policy of the traffic light government," said Erdmann. The fact that the federal government partially withdrew the planned cuts on Thursday does not change anything, he added. "We are demanding a one hundred percent reversal," said Erdmann. This still concerns subsidies for agricultural diesel, which are still to be cut - but no longer in one step but spread over a period of three years.
According to Erdmann, some major freeway slip roads will be exempt from the blockades - such as Leipzig-Mitte, Leipzig-Süd and Dresden-Neustadt. The exits will not be blocked. "You can always get off the highway, but you can't get back on." In addition to the freeway actions, the state farmers' association is planning several regional actions such as a demonstration on the Elbe bridge in Torgau or talks with supermarket customers in the Kamenz area.
Further demonstrations planned
On Wednesday, the farmers then want to demonstrate in Dresden. This will also lead to traffic restrictions when farmers arrive with tractors. On Monday next week (15th), the Saxon farmers then want to take part in a nationwide demonstration in Berlin.
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