German farmers restart protests in northern port city of Hamburg

By Mesut Zeyrek

COLOGNE, Germany (AA) – German farmers on Monday restarted their protests in the northern port city of Hamburg.

Taking to motorways around the city with some 1,500 tractors and agricultural machines, the farmers protested the government's agricultural policies, including heavy taxes and bureaucracy.

According to a statement by the police, while some roads were closed to transportation due to the farmers' protest that started in the morning, traffic congestion and disruptions were experienced in many places.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's left-liberal coalition announced last month that it is planning to cut agricultural fuel and vehicle subsidies, as part of the government’s new austerity measures to meet budget rules.

Amid pressure, the government revised its plan earlier this month and said the tax relief will be gradually phased out over multiple years. However, the farmers’ association turned down this offer, stressing that these changes were far from sufficient to address their problems.