Nothing can stop them.
Neither the early hour, nor the cold.
Thousands of farmers in Germany want to
paralyze the country for a week.
In Klaistow, an hour's drive from Berlin, they have been joined
by tradesmen, hauliers and private individuals.
They are protesting against the government’s
planned austerity cuts .
But they have much more at stake.
A lot's built up over the years.
We have already had to accept cuts in
agricultural subsidies recently.
We have increased bureaucracy, what's happening there is unspeakable.
We have to deal with cost increases.
Cost increases for personnel, machinery and energy.
For farmers, agricultural policy has been going
in the wrong direction for years.
They are now faced with rising inflation and energy prices.
It's clear who's to blame for their misery.
The traffic light government is just crap , that's all I'm saying.
The speeches are not just about subsidies, but also
about migration, climate and gender policy.
For many, the government is just an object of hate.
A chess game begins with a pawn.
The game goes on until the king falls.
The right-wing extremists also want to take advantage of
this anti-government mood.
That is why they are supporting the protests.
In some places loudly, here more in the background.
Then it starts.
Traffic jams form everywhere as the tractor procession makes its
way to Potsdam, the seat of the Brandenburg state government.
The crowd becomes increasingly angry.
They want the head of the regional cabinet to come out
onto the street.
Which he does.
And distances himself
from the policies of the federal government
even though he belongs to the same party
as the chancellor.
I can only advise the federal government to completely
withdraw the cuts.
That would be my first piece of advice.
My second piece of advice would be
to seek dialogue.
Mass protests and road blockades,
and rail strikes could be on the cards.
The German government is facing a winter of discontent.