Large-scale protest in Poland sees tens of thousands of farmers participating in blockades, marking the biggest demonstration yet.
Today, tens of thousands of farmers across Poland are staging blockades at several hundred locations, marking the largest series of protests since they initiated demonstrations last month against EU environmental policies and agricultural imports from Ukraine. Police estimates suggest up to 70,000 protesters are participating in blockades at 570 sites, including major access points to cities like Warsaw and border crossings with Ukraine. Authorities have heightened security following clashes during a previous protest in Warsaw, where 14 officers were injured, prompting accusations of aggressive police tactics. The police issued a statement urging calm ahead of today's nationwide protests.
Scheduled to last from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., today's demonstrations may continue if there's no resolution with the government. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has engaged in talks with farmers' leaders to address their grievances. Despite understanding the farmers' demands, the mayor of Wrocław has prohibited protests in his city, citing concerns for residents' mobility and emergency services' ability to function effectively. The mayor's decision was upheld by a court.
This morning, the mayor reported that protesters had blockaded the street where he resides and had threatened him, but he remains resolute. The farmers initiated their strike last month, citing concerns over EU climate policies and Ukrainian agricultural imports jeopardizing their livelihoods. While promises have been made by politicians, including Tusk, farmers feel these assurances have not materialized into concrete solutions.
Tusk, however, appealed to farmers to recognize the government's efforts to assist them, cautioning against manipulation by certain parties. On Wednesday, the European Parliament announced an extension of the temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU until June 5, 2025, with safeguards in place to protect EU farmers.