Protesting farmers clashed with police outside the parliament building in Warsaw on Wednesday, with police having to use pepper spray and accusing participants of violence against security forces.
Earlier on Wednesday some of the protesters carried and then burned a coffin bearing a sign that read “Farmer, lived 20 years, killed by the Green Deal” as they thronged the street in front of the prime minister’s office, blowing horns and holding Polish flags aloft before marching on parliament.
Thousands of farmers had gathered in the Polish capital, burning tyres and throwing firecrackers as they demanded a halt to cheap imports and environmental regulations they say harm their livelihoods.
“Due to physical aggression against police officers by some of the people protesting ... it was necessary to use direct coercive measures,” Warsaw police wrote in a post on X.
However, clashes with the police occurred in front of the Sejm building. Cobblestones were thrown towards the services. The police responded with tear gas. Water cannons also appeared on the streets in front of the parliament, and the routes were blocked by police cordons.
Television footage showed tractors on the outskirts of Warsaw being stopped from entering the city and farmers blocking roads elsewhere in the country.
In Poland, this has created a delicate balancing act for Donald Tusk’s government in a year where it faces both local and European elections, as it seeks to address farmers’ concerns while also maintaining its staunch support for Kyiv.
The farmers, who were making good on their promise to return to Warsaw after thousands of them marched through the city a week earlier, have been backed by Poland’s biggest labor union NSZZ Solidarność, as well as hunters and forestry workers.
The chairman of NSZZ “Solidarność,” Tomasz Obszański, conveyed in an interview with Polish Press Agency (PAP) that two gatherings took place on Wednesday - one of foresters and one of farmers.
He added that the farmers, marching towards the Sejm, wanted to join the protesting foresters and hunters, and then submit a petition. “The farmers’ assembly ended at 1:00 p.m.” - he added.
At around 3:00 p.m., the police informed the demonstrators that the gathering was illegal and called on participants to disperse. Parliamentarians present at the scene were also urged to leave the protest area. Representatives of the Confederation were visible on site as well.
Tusk has said that market disruptions were not only caused by agricultural products from Ukraine, but also those from Russia and its ally Belarus.
The prime minister has invited the farmers' leaders for talks on Saturday.
Thousands of farmers had gathered in the Polish capital, burning tyres and throwing firecrackers as they demanded a halt to cheap imports and environmental regulations they say harm their livelihoods.
“Due to physical aggression against police officers by some of the people protesting ... it was necessary to use direct coercive measures,” Warsaw police wrote in a post on X.
They added that several officers were wounded and around a dozen people detained.⚡️⚡️ Clashes broke out between protesting Polish #farmers and police in front of the Sejm building in #Warsaw, Poland
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 6, 2024
Police used stun grenades, water cannons and pepper gas to disperse the protesters. pic.twitter.com/kGeTq3iOfs
However, clashes with the police occurred in front of the Sejm building. Cobblestones were thrown towards the services. The police responded with tear gas. Water cannons also appeared on the streets in front of the parliament, and the routes were blocked by police cordons.
Television footage showed tractors on the outskirts of Warsaw being stopped from entering the city and farmers blocking roads elsewhere in the country.
Farmers across the European Union have been calling for changes to restrictions placed on them by the bloc’s Green Deal plan to tackle climate change, and for customs duties on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine that were waived after Russia’s invasion to be reimposed.More video from today's protests in #Warsaw. The footage shows police pushing back #protesters. It is reported that several people, including police officers, were lightly injured. pic.twitter.com/pjRmxQASwg
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 6, 2024
In Poland, this has created a delicate balancing act for Donald Tusk’s government in a year where it faces both local and European elections, as it seeks to address farmers’ concerns while also maintaining its staunch support for Kyiv.
The farmers, who were making good on their promise to return to Warsaw after thousands of them marched through the city a week earlier, have been backed by Poland’s biggest labor union NSZZ Solidarność, as well as hunters and forestry workers.
The chairman of NSZZ “Solidarność,” Tomasz Obszański, conveyed in an interview with Polish Press Agency (PAP) that two gatherings took place on Wednesday - one of foresters and one of farmers.
He added that the farmers, marching towards the Sejm, wanted to join the protesting foresters and hunters, and then submit a petition. “The farmers’ assembly ended at 1:00 p.m.” - he added.
At around 3:00 p.m., the police informed the demonstrators that the gathering was illegal and called on participants to disperse. Parliamentarians present at the scene were also urged to leave the protest area. Representatives of the Confederation were visible on site as well.
Tusk has said that market disruptions were not only caused by agricultural products from Ukraine, but also those from Russia and its ally Belarus.
The prime minister has invited the farmers' leaders for talks on Saturday.
Source: PAP, Reuters
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