Budget 2024 - More and more criticism of cuts for farmers - Schwesig also opposes the traffic lights
Pressure is also growing in the SPD on the federal government to overturn the austerity plans for agriculture. "We need a strong agricultural sector, also so that prices remain stable. The cuts for agriculture go too far and come too suddenly," Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, told stern magazine. The Social Democrat called on the federal government to change course: "A sensible solution must be found."
Since last week's budget agreement between the coalition leaders, the debate on individual measures has also continued within the coalition parties. The reduction of the agricultural diesel subsidy is particularly controversial. The FDP has already announced that it will block the measure. There is also a lot of criticism in the federal states. The agreement on the 2024 budget still has to go through the Bundestag. Changes could be made during the parliamentary process.
After demonstration in Berlin: Schwesig criticizes cuts for farmers
With outraged protests and a long line of tractors, thousands of farmers in Berlin took a stand on Monday against the planned end of tax breaks. "We will not accept this," shouted farmers' president Joachim Rukwied at a rally at the Brandenburg Gate. He called on the traffic light coalition to withdraw the plans to cut agricultural diesel and vehicle tax and threatened major action in January. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) confronted the demonstrators and expressed his understanding for their discontent. He announced further consultations within the government.
Last Wednesday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz(SPD), Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) agreed on how to plug billions of euros in the federal budget for 2024 and in the climate and transformation fund following a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court.
Habeck warned against abandoning the compromise. "If individual struts are now pulled out without putting in new ones, the overall solution will collapse. This means that anyone who wants to make changes in one area must offer a coordinated counter-financing solution that is viable for all sides," he told the German Press Agency. The government could not afford not to give an answer, the budget had to be made.
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- Despite the opposition from Manuela Schwesig (SPD), the Federal Government and their coalition partner FDP are pushing forward with their austerity plans for agriculture, which include reducing the agricultural diesel subsidy.
- In a bid to maintain a strong agricultural sector, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President, Manuela Schwesig, has urged the Federal Government to find a sensible solution that does not involve such deep cuts for farmers.
- The FDP, along with several federal states, has expressed strong criticism against the reduction of the agricultural diesel subsidy, with the party leader, Christian Lindner, confirming that they will block the measure in the Federal Government.
Source: www.stern.de
