Convoys of tractors disrupt traffic in central Madrid
Farmers have been protesting for weeks across European countries
21 February 2024 - 14:22
byCatarina Demony and Guillermo Martinez
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
People show support as Spanish farmers drive their tractors during a protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Madrid, Spain, on February 21, 2024. Picture: REUTERS/VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA Violeta
Madrid — Convoys of tractors disrupted traffic around the Spanish capital on February 21 as farmers protesting against what they see as excessive red tape and insufficient state aid converged in downtown Madrid to march towards the agriculture ministry.
Farmers have been protesting for weeks across European countries, most recently including Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic. They all call for a reduction of bureaucracy linked to the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy and a loosening of the bloc’s environmental rules.
As they waited for five columns of tractors to reach the gathering point at the central Independence Square, protesters wearing yellow vests waved Spanish flags and rang cow bells there, while blaring music from loudspeakers.
Traffic around the Puerta de Alcalá monument ground to a halt, with several buses unable to continue their routes as protesters crowded the streets.
Some farmers complained that police were preventing tractors from entering Madrid. The government said that 500 tractors had been allowed entry — as that was the figure given by organisers when requesting authorisation for the protest — while an additional 150 vehicles were blocked from the city.
Two of the five columns had already arrived, the government said, adding that the only incident of note was the blockade of the A42 motorway connecting Toledo to Madrid, which had been broken up by the police.
Lucia Risueno, a 52-year-old vineyard farmer from the Castilla-La Mancha region, said that authorities had failed to help the sector and called for fairer prices.
“I have the same expenses but I’m making half as much, so we can’t go on like this,” she said, adding there was no limit to the protests until the government implemented strong measures to aid farmers.
Adolfo Albaladejo, 54, said he was fighting to ensure agriculture does not disappear from his country.
“The Spanish countryside wants protectionism. We want to protect our products and be competitive,” he said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Convoys of tractors disrupt traffic in central Madrid
Farmers have been protesting for weeks across European countries
Madrid — Convoys of tractors disrupted traffic around the Spanish capital on February 21 as farmers protesting against what they see as excessive red tape and insufficient state aid converged in downtown Madrid to march towards the agriculture ministry.
Farmers have been protesting for weeks across European countries, most recently including Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic. They all call for a reduction of bureaucracy linked to the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy and a loosening of the bloc’s environmental rules.
As they waited for five columns of tractors to reach the gathering point at the central Independence Square, protesters wearing yellow vests waved Spanish flags and rang cow bells there, while blaring music from loudspeakers.
Traffic around the Puerta de Alcalá monument ground to a halt, with several buses unable to continue their routes as protesters crowded the streets.
Some farmers complained that police were preventing tractors from entering Madrid. The government said that 500 tractors had been allowed entry — as that was the figure given by organisers when requesting authorisation for the protest — while an additional 150 vehicles were blocked from the city.
Two of the five columns had already arrived, the government said, adding that the only incident of note was the blockade of the A42 motorway connecting Toledo to Madrid, which had been broken up by the police.
Lucia Risueno, a 52-year-old vineyard farmer from the Castilla-La Mancha region, said that authorities had failed to help the sector and called for fairer prices.
“I have the same expenses but I’m making half as much, so we can’t go on like this,” she said, adding there was no limit to the protests until the government implemented strong measures to aid farmers.
Adolfo Albaladejo, 54, said he was fighting to ensure agriculture does not disappear from his country.
“The Spanish countryside wants protectionism. We want to protect our products and be competitive,” he said.
Reuters
French prime minister tries to placate farmers
Tractors block city streets in Spain
Police fire tear gas at Indian farmers marching on capital
Climate change issues worsen domestic violence for Sri Lankan women
Narendra Modi ‘will institute labour reforms’ if he wins polls
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
French prime minister tries to placate farmers
Tractors block city streets in Spain
Police fire tear gas at Indian farmers marching on capital
Climate change issues worsen domestic violence for Sri Lankan women
EU lowers climate targets as it bows to farmers’ demands
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.