Germany: Farmers to protest in cities nationwide Jan. 26-28

Agricultural activist groups and farming unions plan to protest in locations across Germany Jan. 26-28 to denounce government agricultural policies, including plans to end tax subsidies for agricultural diesel. The protests are likely to include convoys of slow-moving agricultural vehicles on rural highways and in city centers, blockades of bridges and busy intersections, and demonstrations outside government offices. The main protest day is Jan. 26, with demonstrations planned in multiple locations in the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Bavaria. However, multiple demonstrations will also take place on subsequent days.

Details of the likely most disruptive demonstrations are as follows:

Jan. 26

• Berlin: Go-slow protests with multiple columns of agricultural vehicles to the party headquarters of the government coalition, including the Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Willy-Brandt-Haus on Wilhelmstrasse, the Greens headquarters in Platz vor dem Neuen Tor, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) headquarters on Reinhardtstrasse from 11:00.

Jan. 27

• Munich: Rally in Theresienwiese from 10:30.

• Magdeburg: Rally in Cathedral Square from 13:00.

Jan. 28

• Munich: Rally in Theresienwiese from 12:00.

Heightened security is likely near all demonstrations. Transport disruptions will likely occur throughout the day in areas targeted by protesters. Road travel disruptions are possible at short notice on major highways throughout Germany and on highways entering affected cities on protest days as slow-moving tractors make their way to rally sites. While widespread violence is not anticipated, low-level scuffles between police and protesters are possible.