In Spain, a new chapter has unfolded in the ongoing struggles faced by farmers as tractors took to the roads, causing disruptions across various cities on Wednesday. Farmers’ leaders argue that the Socialist government, while acknowledging the legitimacy of their protests, has allegedly directed the police to use force against them.
This marks the ninth consecutive day of demonstrations by farmers, who find themselves grappling with a multitude of challenges. The agricultural sector is strained by a combination of factors, including low prices, escalating costs, drought conditions, imports from non-EU countries, stringent environmental regulations, and bureaucratic hurdles.
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The road blockades spanned around a dozen cities, stretching from the northern to the southern regions of Spain. Caravans of tractors strategically cut off highways in both directions, blocked entrances, and created traffic jams in prominent locations such as Burgos, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Jaén, Málaga, Palencia, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Toledo, Valladolid, the port of Motril in Granada, and Mercamadrid, which stands as the largest logistics center in the country.
Spain witnessed organized demonstrations orchestrated by the country’s primary farmers’ unions, namely COAG, Asaja, and UPA. In contrast to spontaneous protests facilitated through social media and Telegram platforms in preceding days, these demonstrations obtained official authorization from the government.
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Unauthorized protests across various regions resulted in clashes between law enforcement and farmers as police endeavored to clear blocked roads. The activist group Platform 6F, a significant player in the farmers’ movement, criticized what they termed as police violence against protestors. The organization claimed that some participants had their social media accounts shut down after sharing videos of police actions.
“The Government assured that the protests are legitimate while the instructions were to beat them [protesters] up,” Xaime da Pena, the spokesperson and legal advisor for Platform 6F, said. Da Pena stated that legal action is being considered against Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska and police involved in the confrontations.
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In response to the violent clashes with government security forces, the platform is contemplating alternative strategies, including the release of farm animals onto motorways. Da Pena remarked, “Today there are loose animals throughout Spain, and soon they will be on the roads. Let’s see if the government dares to harm animals.”
On Wednesday, farmers in the Catalonia region persisted in barricading roads near the French border, specifically along the AP-7 in Gerona, approximately forty kilometers from the border. Simultaneously, access to the Port of Tarragona was also blocked by approximately 400 farmers, expressing their intention to uphold the blockade for a continuous 48-hour period.
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This protest coincided with the Food Chain Observatory meeting, during which farmers advocated for the proper enforcement of Spain’s food chain law. This legislation prohibits the acquisition of products from farmers below the costs of production. Farmers, however, assert that these rules are not consistently adhered to or enforced. Media reports in Spain have highlighted significant disparities between the prices farmers receive for their products and the ultimate selling price to consumers.
Looking ahead, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, is scheduled to engage in discussions with Asaja, COAG, and UPA on Thursday. Farmers are seeking increased flexibility in the national plan for implementing the Communal Agricultural Policy from the EU, which serves as a source of subsidies for farmers. Additionally, they are advocating for more substantial support in addressing the persistent issue of drought.
Notably, the principal farmers’ organizations have secured authorization for a gradual procession of tractors along highways leading to the Spanish capital on February 20th. Another demonstration is planned for Madrid on February 26th, coinciding with the EU’s Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting.
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The unrest commenced with Dutch farmers objecting to emission reduction plans, followed by Polish truckers expressing discontent over perceived job losses to Ukraine.Then,German farmers joined the protests, rallying against austerity measures, with French farmers surprisingly joining the dissent. The common denominator in these demonstrations is a resolute rejection of additional aid to Ukraine, fueling widespread upheaval across Europe.
The protests have now extended to Britain and Spain, raising anticipation about potential further participation.