NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 02:31
A group of farmers tried to storm a ferry in northern Germany. On board was Robert Habeck, the German Vice Chancellor on behalf of the Greens and Minister of Economic Affairs.
According to German media, Habeck was on his way back from a holiday on the Wadden Island of Hooge. In the harbor of Schlüttsiel the ferry was met by about a hundred farmers. They wanted to discuss the abolition of subsidies with the minister, which has been the subject of protests in Germany for some time.
That conversation did not take place, after which it was decided to return the boat to the island. According to a spokesperson for Habeck, an offer was made to enter into discussions with a delegation of farmers, but this was not accepted.
When the boat left, about thirty farmers stormed the bridge to the ferry. Officers were able to stop the group. No one was injured. The police did use pepper spray to keep the farmers at a distance.
The storming can be seen in these images:
A spokesperson for the German government calls the farmers’ action shameful and “contrary to the rules of a democratic society.” Annalena Baerbock, Habeck’s party member and Minister of Foreign Affairs, says that a line has been crossed.
Farmers are angry with the government over plans to abolish certain subsidies. This previously led to protests in Berlin, among others.
Yesterday the coalition in Germany decided to postpone some of the plans, but that is not enough for the farmers. More protests have been announced for next week.
2024-01-05 01:31:08
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