Germans Rise Up Against Leftist Green Policies

Written by Anthony Constantini

What’s happening: German farmers are protesting across the country in response to the German government’s announcement it will gradually end subsidies for farming vehicles based on fuel usage. Farmers say this would threaten their livelihood and ruin their industry.

• Happening across Europe: From 2019-2023, outraged farmers in the Netherlands protested against planned nitrogen bans, which would eliminate many small farms.

Why it matters: While increasingly frequent anti-establishment protests make headline news, current demonstrations are particularly important because 2024 is a massive election year, with continent-wide elections in both Europe and America. Making life difficult for the working class to appease climate advocates may contribute to an election loss for German leftists.

• The stakes: The entire E.U. will hold European parliamentary elections in June. Currently, the only two groups set to gain seats are right-wing. The more protests spread in the continent, the more potential support to anti-establishment parties.

How the government is responding: Establishment leaders frequently try to dismiss protesters as “far-right” to tarnish any movement that may threaten the foothold of traditional parties. Germany’s interior minister used this tactic when she declared “enemies of democracy” are trying to exploit the protests.

• We’ve seen this before: In 2022, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau smeared protesters against COVID-19 restrictions by associating them with white nationalists.

• Keep in mind: The current German government is historically unpopular. 59 percent of Germans want new elections in 2024, and for months straw polls have had the far-right Alternative for Germany Party solidly in second place, far ahead of the left-wing Social Democratic Party.