interview
Because the federal government is making savings, farmers will receive less support in the future. That arouses anger. A farmer about the current situation and what it all means for him.
In Germany, farmers and farmers are storming. It’s about high costs that are putting them under pressure and money that the government wants to take from them. The federal government wanted to introduce a vehicle tax for landscape vehicles, but canceled the plan. However, she wants to reduce subsidies for agricultural diesel. Farmers across Germany are horrified – and angry. In their anger, some attacked the economics minister, who fled on a ferry towards Hallig Hooge.
Eckhard Clausen, a farmer from the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district, can only shake his head about the campaign. However, he also understands the anger of his colleagues. He himself is disappointed – with Habeck, Özdemir and the entire federal government. In the star-Conversation he explains what the federal government’s austerity measures would mean for him.
Mister Clausenhow many protests and blockades have you taken part in with your agricultural colleagues?
This is starting well. We do not block, but stand up for our cause. Every now and then we stood on the street to draw attention to ourselves and our concerns. We don’t see the reimbursement as a subsidy, but rather as partial relief because we don’t use public roads like everyone else does.
You sound very upset. Is that also the basic mood of the protests?
Personally, I am extremely disappointed. Other professional colleagues are angry. I can understand the displeasure. We feel that the government no longer values our profession. The fact that the refund was canceled and the announced vehicle tax levy was the last straw. We have repeatedly signaled in the past that we are prepared to compromise. I’m a democrat and that’s why I’m drawing attention to our problems.
I can’t switch to renewable energies because the market doesn’t yet support it.
What do you as a democratic farmer say about the incident in Schlüttsiel?
I wasn’t there and wouldn’t have taken part in it either. Unfortunately, there are social groups that are radical and from which I also distance myself. I wasn’t there myself and therefore can’t judge the situation very well. But people acting aggressively is not acceptable. As far as I know, there were no violent attacks.
Do you think the protests so far have been successful?
The actions have already achieved something. The fact that the vehicle tax is not coming and the refund is supposed to come gradually also shows that the plans were not yet fully developed and that the government is mindlessly trying to plug any holes.
No vehicle tax and a staggered increase in the price of agricultural diesel – what does that mean for you?
I run a 500 hectare farm and need 60,000 liters of diesel. The state pays 21.5 cents per liter, which is almost 13,000 euros annually, which will soon no longer be paid. I can’t switch to renewable energies because the market doesn’t yet support it.
We are bombarded with costs that we cannot pass on. The fact that we now have to dig deeper into our pockets is really frustrating. Against this background, politicians must openly admit that they do not want agriculture in its current form.
Is there still support for you?
Large parts of the population are behind us and we want it to stay that way. But we are also getting a lot of calls from citizens who are wondering how they should get from A to B during next week’s protests. But most people understand that we take to the streets and draw attention to our concerns.
Source: Stern
