Billions of animals live in Germany – many of them in livestock farming, others in private households, in laboratories, in zoos or circuses, and, of course, in the wild. Although they constitute such a large group whose lives are affected daily by human political decisions, they have no state institution of their own to represent their interests. The protection of animals has been enshrined as a state objective in the Basic Law since 2002. However, the actual priority given to animal welfare in politics remains marginal. The reason for this lies in a structural problem: responsibility for animal welfare still lies with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH) – and therefore within a ministry whose main focus is on promoting agricultural interests.

This role constitutes a systemic conflict of interest, and is only further highlighted by the recent appointment of Alois Rainer as the new Minister for Agriculture!

In the past, Alois Rainer has spoken out against an increase in VAT on meat products; he has emphasised that the long-distance transport of animals is necessary in certain cases; and he has described tethering cattle as an excellent way of keeping animals.

As is so often the case, animal welfare is overshadowed by economic considerations. This leads to a system of animal welfare that promises much on paper, but is barely enforced in practice. As a result of such empty statements, serious abuses that have existed for decades continue without consequence.

As long as animal welfare sits within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs, it cannot be represented as a truly independent cause — it will always be compromised by economic interests.The result is that animals’ interests are not equally incorporated into the political decision-making process alongside other parties. From the outset, they are downplayed, and are further diluted as the process continues. A genuine balance of interests between animal welfare and agriculture therefore never takes place. This is not a fair representation of animals’ interests, but a system that prevents justice from the very beginning.