In an escalation of their ongoing grievances, members of the Polish Orka Farmers’ Union initiated a sit-in protest at the lower house of parliament (Sejm), demanding a direct dialogue with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The farmers’ protests, now focused within the walls of the lower house of parliament, stem from concerns over economic pressures from Ukrainian grain imports and the environmental mandates of the EU’s Green Deal, which they argue threaten their livelihoods.
The union’s action highlights a growing unrest among Polish farmers, who argue that both the influx of agricultural products from Ukraine and stringent EU environmental policies unfairly disadvantage their operations.
“Today we want to protest against the Green Deal, against the opening of the border to products flowing into the country from Ukraine,” a union spokesperson said during a press conference.
“We are not thugs or hooligans. We want to protest in a cultural way, to manifest the problems we have in agriculture,” the representative said.
The farmers promise to occupy the Sejm until their demands for a meeting with Tusk are met.
The protest occurred against the backdrop of an upcoming European Parliament election, with political tensions simmering.
The farmers’ plight has gained selective political support, notably from the far-right Confederation and the conservative Law and Justice party.
Meanwhile, the government has attempted to mitigate some financial strain from the conflict in Ukraine with new subsidies for farmers, intended to help manage the surplus grain on the market.
Farmers’ protests in Poland have been going off and on since February.
The union’s action highlights a growing unrest among Polish farmers, who argue that both the influx of agricultural products from Ukraine and stringent EU environmental policies unfairly disadvantage their operations.
“Today we want to protest against the Green Deal, against the opening of the border to products flowing into the country from Ukraine,” a union spokesperson said during a press conference.
“We are not thugs or hooligans. We want to protest in a cultural way, to manifest the problems we have in agriculture,” the representative said.
The farmers promise to occupy the Sejm until their demands for a meeting with Tusk are met.
The protest occurred against the backdrop of an upcoming European Parliament election, with political tensions simmering.
The farmers’ plight has gained selective political support, notably from the far-right Confederation and the conservative Law and Justice party.
Meanwhile, the government has attempted to mitigate some financial strain from the conflict in Ukraine with new subsidies for farmers, intended to help manage the surplus grain on the market.
Farmers’ protests in Poland have been going off and on since February.
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