Alois Rainer: “Black butcher” speaks of falling meat prices

The designated Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer (CSU) announces a turn in agricultural and meat policy and also considers falling meat prices possible. “In the coalition agreement, it was agreed that no tax increases will be carried out. I will stick to this as a future minister,” Rainer told the “Bild” newspaper (Wednesday) according to the preliminary report. There will be no higher taxes on meat.

The still incumbent Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) had recently campaigned for a new tax to meat in the amount of ten cents per kilo. Rainer, on the other hand, also considers falling meat prices possible: “I am a big friend of the social market economy. That means: meat prices does not make the minister, but the market.”

The future agricultural minister also takes a look at the menu of kindergartens and schools and warns of purely vegetarian dishes. “A balanced diet is important,” said the CSU politician about “Bild”. This applies “especially in kindergartens and schools, where fruit, vegetables such as meat and vegetarian dishes should be on the menu”. “High quality nutrition is important to him”.

In the future, Rainer wants to give the farmers more freedom: “Farmers are not children who have to be patronized.” In agricultural policy, he would rather rely on incentives instead of bans.

Rainer’s appeal caused a certain surprise – his name has so far played no major role outside of the political Berlin. Rainer has been in the Bundestag since 2013, but so far his sister Gerda Hasselfeldt has been well known in the Bundestag as a former Minister of Building and then Health Minister and long-time chairman of the CSU state group. With him, Martina Englhardt-Kopf changes to the Ministry as State Secretary.

“Instead of the green, vegan Özdemir, the black butcher is now coming. Now there is liver cheese again instead of tofu-Teielei,” said CSU boss Markus Söder when it comes to calling Rainer.

Rainer is only Söder’s second choice for the ministerial post – he had always named Bavaria’s peasant president Günther Felßner as his desired candidate in the election campaign. However, this had given up against himself in March after protests by environmental and animal rights activists. Felßner saw the safety of his family in danger in his farm.