Polish farmers clash with police in agricultural protests News
Silar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Polish farmers clash with police in agricultural protests

Polish farmers clashed with Polish police on Wednesday during ongoing protests over the government’s alleged inaction on increasing economic pressures on the agricultural industry. The protests are a part of broader farmer-led protests across Europe demanding relief from taxes and rising costs.

Warsaw Police stated on X (formerly Twitter) that they arrested 55 people in connection with the protests, with 26 of them detained during the events on Wednesday. Police also stated that 13 police officers were injured in the clashes on Wednesday. Police described the protesters’ behavior as “provocative” towards police officers.

In contrast, a Polish trade union representing some of the farmers, Rural Solidarity, described the police’s behavior as “provocative.” Solidarity said the protest was “successful” and “peaceful” until the police arrived to break up the demonstration. Solidarity called upon those who were present and recorded videos of protesters’ interactions with police to send them into the union, as they have retained legal support to represent the detained farmers.

The current protests are the most recent in a flurry of protests across the continent as a result of economic pressures on the agricultural industry. Farmers are protesting against increasing environmental regulations under the EU Green Deal which aims to combat global warming. Farmers are also unhappy with the waiver on custom duties on imports from Ukraine, which Polish farmers argue is affecting their income. Last month, farmers launched a 30-day nationwide protest, while truckers blocked borders to Ukraine in conjunction with farmers’ actions.

Solidarity has criticized a statement by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on February 22, claiming that blockades are preventing humanitarian aid and emergency vehicles from entering Ukraine, as manipulation intended to stop protests. Solidarity Chairman Tomasz Obszański declared that emergency vehicles were allowed through the blockades and encouraged farmers and supporters to attend the Wednesday protests.

Even after Wednesday’s clashes with police, Solidarity maintained that they will continue with the protests. The next protests are scheduled to occur on March 20.

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