The farmers’ protests are reaching Madrid, specifically some concentrations are already being recorded around the Puerta de Alcalá, waiting for the rest of the columns to arrive from different parts of Spain. The demonstration is generating some road blocks on different roads in the Community of Madrid and there is already one injured and one detained after moments of tension experienced in the Puerta de Alcalá.
The coordinator of the Union of Unions (UDU) and leader of the organizers, Luis Cortés, was slightly injured after several tractors were placed in front of the police cordon. At this time the National Police has arrested a person who was at the protest “for resisting and disobeying the agents.”
The group of farmers plans to arrive at the Ministry of Agriculture, around the Atocha station. The mobilization was planned with more than 500 tractors, but 150 have been left outside the capital because they exceeded the quota that had been agreed upon. Furthermore, the farmers have warned that they will not leave the capital until they let in the nearly 1,000 tractors that are detained at the entrances to Madrid.
During their trip to the capital they have temporarily interrupted the A-42 in Torrejón de la Calzada, in protest at the retention of 130 tractors by the Civil Guard. Once the authorities have allowed their transit, the first platoon of tractors has resumed its march along O’Donnell Street.
According to first estimates, it is estimated that around 250 farmers have gathered. Likewise, intermittent interruptions have also been recorded on the N-6 between El Espinar (Segovia) and Alto del León (Madrid), according to the General Directorate of Traffic.
Traffic is also slow on other roads, since vehicles that are not authorized to enter the capital are arriving in the outskirts of Madrid. Beyond Madrid, the COAG, Asaja and UPA platforms have called for rallies in other territories. In Malaga, for example, a column of tractors has already arrived in the city center.
The Delegation of the Government of Spain in Madrid has reported that, so far, the agrarian mobilization is being developed according to the itineraries and conditions included in the resolution announced last Monday by this Delegation, appealed by the organizers and confirmed by the TSJM. The only notable incident, the temporary closure of the A42, dissolved by the Civil Guard.
At the Ministry, nearly a million people are waiting for the tractors to arrive. The police force consists of at least twenty national police officers, who are in charge of protecting the ministerial gate, which is completely fenced. In addition, the first tractors are expected to arrive at this headquarters around 2:00 p.m., according to what Unión de Uniones, the organization calling for the agrarian protest, has communicated to the media. So far the protest has taken place without any type of problem between protesters and State Security Forces and Bodies. However, there have been some moments of tension.
The convening platform: “This afternoon it will be difficult to circulate through Madrid”
The president of the Union of Unions, Luis Cortes, has announced that the concentration of farmers and tractors at Puerta de Alcalá will continue until the rest of the tractors, which have been prevented from leaving points such as Arganda del Rey or Torrejón de Calzada, join the protest. The demonstration could extend beyond what was planned, as Cortés has warned: “Those who must leave for family reasons will do so, but this afternoon it will be difficult to circulate through Madrid.”
Cortés described the day as “historic” and confirmed that the tractors will follow the initially planned route to the Government Delegation in Madrid. “We will head towards Cibeles, we will tour the Paseo del Prado and we will stop at the Ministry, where we will present a manifesto,” he explained.
The leader of the Union of Unions emphasizes that the march demonstrates the convening power of this agrarian association, which the Government does not recognize as an interlocutor. “The Government says that we do not represent anyone, but we have just denied the minister,” he stated. One of the main demands of this organization is the reinstatement of the mechanism of agrarian chambers, which allowed rural workers to elect their representatives.
Planas hopes the protests will be peaceful
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, presented this Wednesday before the Plenary Session of the Congress of Deputies, during the Government control session, three measures that his ministry will promote to protect national production against foreign competition abroad. of the European Union (EU).
Planas has detailed these measures in response to a question from the Popular Party about the actions that the Government will take to defend the agri-food sector against unfair competition from third countries. Among the measures presented by Planas is the application of “mirror clauses” to equate the requirements for the use of phytosanitary products with imported products. A measure that is part of the document with 18 policies announced last week after meeting with agricultural organizations.
Likewise, the Government will strengthen health services for food products, centralizing both export and import services. The minister has pointed out that the EU, together with the United States, has the highest demands on the external border, ensuring that all products imported from third countries comply with FAO health regulations.
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