Amadeus, the artistic director and
presenter of the 2024 Sanremo Song Festival underway in the
Ligurian riviera resort, will read a statement on the tractor
protests at the Ariston Theatre on Friday, state broadcaster Rai
said in a statement on Thursday.
"The demands of farmers will find a voice at the Ariston despite
the extreme fragmentation of the unions and associations," said
the statement.
"In the impossibility of hosting some representatives on stage,
Amadeus will read a statement that will bring to the attention
of the general public the problems, difficulties, and requests
coming from the agricultural world," added Rai.
The presence at Sanremo of farmers protesting over European and
national agricultural policies and general hardship has been an
issue of contention in recent days, with Amadeus saying he would
be happy to host them and Rai denying that official contacts had
been made.
On Thursday morning a small group of farmers in tractors
demonstrating under the banner of Agricultural redemption, one
of the groups behind the peaceful protests underway across
Italy, arrived in Sanremo and said some of their members may
take the stage.
The announcement sparked an angry response from Danilo Calvani,
president of Cra Agricoltori, who said the move was political.
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