Farmers in tractors protesting against
national and European policies, cheap imports, high costs and
low agricultural prices continued their advance on Rome on
Monday ahead of a national demonstration in the capital
announced for Friday.
Roughly 250 farm vehicles departed from a garrison set up near
the Valdichiana tollgate on the A1 motorway north of Rome and
headed west towards the Via Cassia consular road before snaking
their way south to the capital.
The tractors are expected to arrive in Rome around 5 pm and will
gather with others arriving from other parts of Italy including
Pisa at a new garrison on Via Nomentana near the motorway ring
road.
"We have created a garrison on Via Nomentana, now there are
about 20 tractors but others are arriving from Pisa and
Valdichiana. By tonight we expect about 600-700 vehicles," said
Salvatore Fais of the Riscatto Agricolo (Agricultural
redemption) movement, one of the groups involved in the
protests.
"We will hold discussions with the police authorities in the
next few hours. The idea is to demonstrate in Rome on Friday
with a procession that will cross the city," he added.
Separately, Danilo Calvani of Cra Agricoltori and the leader of
the nationwide revolt the said his organisation was "expecting
about two thousand tractors for the big mobilisation in Rome",
the date of which will be announced on Monday evening after a
meeting with police.
Meanwhile, he said garrisons had already formed around the
capital in Valmontone, Civitavecchia and Torrimpientra.
Of the tractors heading to Rome from Valdichiana, Calvani said
they are an "autonomous group".
"When they arrive in Rome, if they want, we will be ready to
welcome them," he added.
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