Berlin streets remain gridlocked due to a demonstration by approximately 30,000 farmers, who have taken to the city's streets in protest.
A farmers' protest took place in the heart of Berlin on Tuesday, 16th January, causing significant disruption to traffic and peace. The centre of the city is still blocked off as the protest continues.
The demonstration saw the participation of farmers driving large agricultural vehicles, as well as freight carriers, adding to the scale of the event. The roads on Straße des 17. Juni and Unter den Linden were filled with tractors, creating a striking sight in the city.
The protestors expressed their anger towards Germany's ruling 'traffic light' coalition of SPD, FDP, and Greens, with signs reading 'The traffic light must go'. The demonstration was noisy and disruptive, with music playing throughout the day and into the early hours of Monday morning. Some Berlin residents found the music particularly disruptive, with one example being the repetitive tune of Baby Shark.
The farmers' protest in Berlin is politically mixed, featuring both right-wing and left-wing symbols. Posters for the AfD and right-wing radical organization Junge Alternative were seen at the protest. However, the iconic hammer and compass flags of the DDR were also present, indicating a diverse range of political views among the protestors.
The exact number of farmers and transport drivers participating in the protest is unclear. The organizers claimed that 30,000 farmers took part, while police reported 8,500. Regardless of the exact number, the protest caused significant disruption due to the participation of farmers driving large agricultural vehicles.
The increase in toll on trucks, including a CO2 surcharge, which was implemented last December, is being criticized by the industry representatives. Critics argue that there are currently not enough suitable charging stations and power networks to make logistics traffic effectively climate friendly. This issue, along with the farmers' concerns, has contributed to the ongoing protest in Berlin.
More than 100 agricultural vehicles are on their way to Berlin to join the farmers' protest, indicating that the disruption may continue for some time. The centre of Berlin remains blocked off, causing traffic chaos and disruption to daily life in the city.
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