"German Vice-Chancellor Trapped by Protesting Farmers, Stirring National Concern and Radicalization Fears"
German Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck was trapped on a ferry by protesting farmers who were demonstrating against planned cuts to diesel subsidies. The farmers' blockade at the port prevented Habeck from disembarking, leading to a heated standoff that lasted several hours. The protest is part of a series of actions by farmers who are dissatisfied with the government's budget cuts affecting agricultural diesel fuel. Despite the government delaying the subsidy cuts until 2026, the farmers, supported by the German Farmers' Association, are planning a general strike. The protest tactics have been criticized by politicians across the spectrum, and the farmers' association has distanced itself from the blockade, emphasizing respect for democratic traditions and politicians' privacy.