Farmers Protest in Madrid
Convoys of tractors disrupted traffic around the Spanish capital on Wednesday as farmers gathered to protest against excessive red tape and insufficient state aid. The protesters, waving Spanish flags and ringing cow bells, marched towards the Agriculture Ministry in downtown Madrid.
European farmers have been protesting for weeks, demanding a reduction of bureaucracy linked to the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy and a loosening of the bloc’s environmental rules. The protests have spread to countries including Poland, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
As the tractors made their way to the central Independence Square, traffic around the Puerta de Alcala monument came to a halt, with buses unable to continue their routes. Some farmers complained that police were preventing tractors from entering Madrid. The government said that 500 tractors had been allowed entry, while an additional 150 vehicles were blocked from the city.
Two of the five columns of tractors had already arrived, with the only incident being the blockade of the A42 motorway connecting Toledo to Madrid, which was broken up by the police.
Lucia Risueno, a 52-year-old vineyard farmer, expressed her frustration over the lack of support from the authorities. She called for fairer prices and stated that there would be no end to the protests until the government implemented strong measures to aid farmers.
Adolfo Albaladejo, 54, emphasized the need to protect Spanish agriculture and ensure its competitiveness. He voiced concerns about the disappearing agricultural sector and called for protectionism to safeguard local products.
