Following the AfD’s victory in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, farmers’ association president Joachim Rukwied has called on the federal government to show more resolve. Speaking to the Rheinische Post, Rukwied stated that the agricultural sector urgently needs relief and clear signals, noting that “courage” is essential right now. He also observed that the election outcome might be explained by a “Berlin effect.”
Rukwied added that he was perplexed by the reactions emanating from the governing parties. He criticized the SPD for acting almost as though they were election victors-remaining “stable in the single digits”-and found the Chancellor’s comment that his own political messaging “was obviously not well explained” to be insufficient. “There is a lot at stake now,” Rukwied stressed. He insisted that the federal government must finally and truly address the situation.
The agricultural sector is struggling with soaring costs, persistently low prices, and modest yields. “Farmers are truly fighting for their survival. Credit limits are exhausted, and there is no access to new loans,” he explained. Consequently, Rukwied urged for immediate relief measures. A crucial element of this relief, he highlighted, needed to be the reduction of the diesel tax, which he said is necessary “so that we can get the next harvest off the ground.”
