Top German MPs meet farmers amid tractor protests

Farming industry leaders met top lawmakers from all three political parties in Germany's governing coalition on Monday amid mass protests by farmers in Berlin over subsidy cuts, reported dpa.

Parliamentary leaders from the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) last week invited officials from eight agricultural industry groups for talks. In addition to financial burdens facing farmers, the politicians hoped to discuss the "lack of certainty and economic prospects for agricultural businesses."

Thousands of farmers have driven tractors and other heavy equipment into centre of the German capital to demand that Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government abandon plans to gradually reduce diesel fuel tax breaks for farmers.

'Go away!': Protesting farmers heckle German finance minister

Protesting farmers booed and jeered German Finance Minister Christian Lindner at a large demonstration in central Berlin on Monday.

Lindner took to the podium to address the angry farmers, who are protesting government proposals to cut agricultural diesel fuel subsidies, but was shouted down by the crowd.

He was only able to begin his speech after Joachim Rukwied, the leader of a major agricultural lobby group, appealed to the crowd.

The assembled farmers nevertheless continued to accompany his speech with loud shouts of "Go away!" as well as honking and whistling. The heckling largely drowned out the sound of Lindner's speech, despite the loudspeakers at the rally.