Under police protection and accompanied by around a dozen demonstrators, Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir visited the Fruchtwelt Bodensee trade fair in Friedrichshafen. The protest remained peaceful, a police spokesman said. Dozens of emergency services and protesters with signs accompanied the Green politician’s tour of the show.
“I can understand that the anger that many farmers had with the austerity measures is of course being reminded again,” said Özdemir.
After the sometimes violent demonstrations surrounding the political Ash Wednesday in Biberach, just more than 60 kilometers away, the police closely monitored the minister’s visit. At the protest more than a week ago, hundreds of people, including farmers, disrupted a Green Party event. The police used pepper spray and batons. The officers were also injured during the riots.
Özdemir said again that German agriculture was not responsible for the pictures in Biberach. “These are free riders who are trying to use the legitimate protest of German agriculture for other interests.”
It is unfortunate that so many police officers have to accompany his visit to the trade fair. He condemned the attacks on officials in Biberach. “Anyone with any sense knows that you don’t attack police officers.” Anyone who sees it differently has a kink in their optics. “The fact that we even have to say this shows that something has slipped in our country.”
