railway strike and angry farmers paralyze the country

A three-day strike by railway workers paralyzes rail traffic on Wednesday January 10 in Germany, where angry farmers continue their blockades of roads. These mobilizations set the tone for a year that promises to be difficult for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the head of a divided coalition, which is struggling with a weakened economy and low popularity.

Train drivers will be on strike until Friday evening over their wages and working hours at the call of the GDL union, after the failure of negotiations with the public operator Deutsche Bahn (DB). DB predicts disruptions “massive”recommending travelers to“avoid any unnecessary travel” during the strike. Many Germans have opted to work from home to avoid transportation headaches, with many states allowing children to stay away from school.

Travelers hoping to fall back on the car are also disappointed. Since Monday, thousands of farmers have been protesting against the government’s agricultural policy. Convoys of tractors are blocking highway entrances across the country. Farmers have been expressing their anger since December against the government’s decision to cut subsidies to the sector due to a call to order from constitutional judges over Germany’s strict budgetary rules.