From economic powerhouse to the 'sick man of Europe': How Germany has been crippled by rail strikes and tractor blockades in its own 'winter of discontent' as the far-Right circles Chancellor Olaf Sch

Germany has long been considered the powerhouse of Europe. But with crippling strikes by rail workers angry over pay and working conditions paralysing the country, combined with an eight-day nationwide protest by farmers, it is fast becoming the 'sick man of Europe'. But with crippling strikes by rail workers angry over pay and working conditions paralysing the country, combined with an eight-day nationwide protest by farmers, it is fast becoming the 'sick man of Europe' Farmers are protesting about the axing of fuel subsidies, while rail workers want a reduction in the number of hours they work – but without any pay cuts During a protest in Berlin, a banner on a farmer's truck supporting the Right-wing party Alternative for Germany party states: 'Germany needs new elections' Germany's problems are compounded by the fact that it is governed by a three-party coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz that is failing to agree on anything, bringing inertia that plays into the hands of the extremist AfD party 'When the tractors blocked the city, it was chaos,' he said. Farmers in hundreds of tractors take part in a protest rally in Augsburg, southern Germany, on Wednesday Farmers and other protesters block a major road in Berlin with tractors and other vehicles on the first day of a week of demonstrations on January 8 Joachim Rukwied, president of the German farmers' association, said the country was being run by people who 'have never worked and never sweated'. This week the famed German rail network effectively ground to a halt with normally bustling rail hubs in Cologne, Berlin and Frankfurt deserted Empty high-speed inter-city express trains at Frankfurt's main station on Wednesday as German train drivers began a nationwide three-day strike after wage talks broke down Claus Weselsky, leader of the GDL rail union, warned of further action once the three-day strike ends tonight.