German Farmers Converge on Berlin to Protest Against Government Austerity Plan

Finance minister draws jeers after telling striking farmers in Berlin that state funds are needed to shore up Ukraine’s war effort.

A banner on a tractor reads "You are feeding others and you want to chase us away" as German farmers protest against the cut of vehicle tax subsidies of the so-called German Ampel coalition government in Berlin, Germany, on Jan. 8, 2024. Nadja Wohlleben/Reuters

Farmers from across Germany—many driving their tractors and trucks—converged on Berlin on Jan. 15 to protest against government plans to boost taxes and phase out subsidies associated with agricultural production.

The show of force in Berlin caps a week of high-profile strikes by farmers who have blocked roads nationwide, including several border crossings.