Italian farmers continue to protest tough work conditions
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Co-founder of the Agricultural Renewal movement expects between 1,500 and 2,000 tractors by Friday.
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Manuele Calzoni, center, drives his tractor to join the protest of other farmers near the highway junction, in Orte, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024(AP)
Today, dozens of Italian farmers with tractors started gathering on the edge of Rome in a major demonstration pressuring the government to improve their tough working conditions while demanding a meeting with a government minister.
Lower fuel taxes, improved prices for their products, and ratification of EU environmental regulations restricting foreign produce and organization competition are some of the demands the Italian workers have raised noting that several other countries across Europe have witnessed similar demonstrations over past weeks.
At Via Nomentana, a main road into Rome, around 50 tractors gathered from Tuscany and 200 others in Turin. Co-founder of the Agricultural Renewal movement, Andrea Papa, informed AFP that the latter is expected to increase reaching between 1,500 and 2,000 tractors by Friday.
Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, blamed the farmers' outrage on the "environmental transition" that she believes hits farmers' lives. The far-right leader is a known critic of the EU regulation as an attack on Italy's agricultural interests.
She also mentioned how EU agricultural aid to Italy had increased by five to eight billion euros following a renegotiation.
Police detained French farmers
Over 90 individuals were apprehended following an effort to seize control of the Rungis food market near Paris, as stated by Paris police chief Laurent Nunez on BFMTV on February 1.
“We will not tolerate violations of public order and, ultimately, attacks against police officers. This is what happened today at Rungis, when a group of protesters tried to break in. It is obvious that the 'red lines' drawn by the Interior Ministry were violated, the people who participated in this were detained. A total of 91 arrests were made," Nunez said.
Expressing frustration over unfair competition, French farmers have announced plans to bring heavy machinery to Paris to protest against the food market. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has emphasized that the planned blockade of Rungis and airports is a red line for the government. He cautioned that the police would employ armored vehicles and helicopters to safeguard against potential disruptions.
Darmanin stated that the count of farmers protesting nationwide against the government's agricultural policies has risen to approximately 10,000.
