Olaf Scholz, Germany’s beleaguered Chancellor, has lashed out at “extremists” whom he accused of “stoking rage” as the country braced for more tractor protests by angry farmers.
Farmers have blocked major roads and snarled traffic across the country with their tractors as part of a week of protests against proposals to scrap tax breaks on diesel which is used in agriculture.
They went ahead with the demonstrations even though the government watered down its original plan by saying that a car tax exemption for farming vehicles would be retained and the cuts in the diesel tax breaks would be staggered over three years.
In a video message, Mr Scholz insisted he ”took the farmers’ arguments to heart” and claimed his government had offered “a good compromise,” even though farmers continue to insist on fully reversing the subsidy cuts.
Officials would discuss “what else we can do so that agriculture has a good future”, he added.
Plans to scrap the tax breaks stem from the need to fill a large hole in Germany’s 2024 budget.
Mr Scholz acknowledged concerns that go well beyond farming subsidies, saying that crises, conflicts and worries about the future are unsettling people.
He said: “Arguments belong to democracy. But I know, including from personal experience of recent months, that arguments can wear people down and stoke uncertainty. We must improve this year.”
Compromises were likewise an essential part of democracy, Mr Scholz acknowledged.
However, he continued: “Rage is being stoked deliberately; with a gigantic reach, extremists are decrying every compromise, including on social media, and poisoning every democratic debate.
“This is a toxic mixture that must concern us, which very much preoccupies me too.”
He also thanked the head of the German Farmers’ Association for distancing himself clearly from “extremists and some copycats who call for an ‘uprising’ and waffle about ‘overthrowing the system.’”
Mr Scholz warned: “If protests that are legitimate in themselves tip over into sweeping rage or contempt for democratic processes and institutions, then we all lose. Only those who despise our democracy will benefit.”
The farmers’ protests come at a time of deep general discontent with the centre-left Scholz’s three-party government, which has become notorious for frequent public squabbles.
The far-right Alternative for Germany party has gained strength over the past year and is currently in second place in national polls, with support of over 20 percent – behind the mainstream centre-right opposition bloc but ahead of the parties in Scholz’s coalition.
Germany faces European Parliament elections in June and three state elections in September in the formerly communist east, where Alternative for Germany is particularly strong.
Authorities have warned that far-right groups and others could try to capitalise on the farmers’ protests, and the demonstrations faced scrutiny after a much-criticised earlier incident in which a group of farmers prevented Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from disembarking a ferry in a small North Sea port as he returned from a personal trip to an offshore island.
Speaking to Express.co.uk last month, former German MEP Hans-Olaf Henkel said despite his manifest unpopularity, Germany’s emphasis on political stability made it highly unlikely that he would be ousted any time soon.
Mr Henkel said: “After WW2 only one Chancellor unwillingly lost his job.
“Olaf Scholz leads beyond doubt the least popular coalition Government in the Republic’s history.
“But he can stay in the saddle regardless of how much the horse he rides is kicking.”
