As someone living in Germany, this is horrible.
The idea that, for example, a couple dozen farmers can block or delay a new train track for high-speed trains for decades that would enhance the lives of millions of people is horrendous.
What can we do to fight against this? And why doesn't it seem to be a more prominent issue for more people?
At the end of the day, this is a method that is simply abused out of pure self-interest. It was meant to hear the voices of local residents during planning, and that is not only good, but necessary, but it is getting totally out of hand.
I have heard that in Anglophone countries, this phenomenon is even more pronounced.