Massive protests by farmers have thwarted the Greens’ political Ash Wednesday. Due to the aggressive atmosphere, the event had to be canceled.
The Greens have canceled their political Ash Wednesday event in Biberach, Baden-Württemberg. The chairman of the local district association, Michael Gross, cited the aggressive mood at demonstrations in the area as the reason on Wednesday. In the run-up to the event there were massive protests and blockades, including by farmers. According to its own information, the state farmers’ association in Baden-Württemberg did not call for the protests or support them in advance.
Farmers in Biberach had been protesting and blocking roads since the morning. Dozens of tractors were parked on the access roads to the town hall. A large pile of dung was dumped in front of the hall. Loud horns and music could be heard.
Protesters break vehicle windows
The protests also included an incident in which police used pepper spray on demonstrators to clear the path for two vehicles. The two vehicles then drove away from the town hall. A window on a vehicle was smashed. Protesters had previously blocked the street with paving stones and sandbags.
The board of the district farmers’ association, Karl Endriß, said that there was no way to get to the town hall because there were demonstrators everywhere around it. According to Endriß, various groups had called for the protests. The demonstrators are mainly farmers, but haulage companies are also involved.
The Greens have been meeting in Biberach for years, where a lot of federal celebrities were expected again this year. In addition to Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, who is considered a promising candidate to succeed Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann, Federal Chairwoman Ricarda Lang and veteran Jürgen Trittin should take the lectern. Kretschmann should also be there.
More information coming soon