Thousands of protesters and more than 500 tractors and trucks have taken the capital this Wednesday morning, exceeding expectations, in a protest and peaceful march
The regional field launched an SOS on Wednesday for its survival in one of the largest demonstrations carried out by farmers and ranchers in Murcia, which has developed without incident. The organizers were overwhelmed by the massive participation in the march that went through the center of the city, and that brought traffic to a standstill for much of the morning. Thousands of demonstrators, along with more than 500 tractors, trucks and agricultural machinery, exceeded the forecasts of the agrarian organizations, which claim “Future and respect for the countryside.”
The Coag, Upa and Asaja unions, in addition to the cooperatives, exporters’ associations, irrigation communities and the Water Board, staged one of the largest protests demanding the agricultural and livestock sector, which ended at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Delegation of the government. The building was escorted by the National Police, while a helicopter flew over the area for an hour with continuous passes over the protesters.
Notice of “tougher measures”
The demonstration ended with the messages launched by the leaders of the sector, who thanked the assistance of representatives of the political parties, except United We Can, to those who requested that they not use the protest “as ammunition to fight each other”, as Marcos Alarcón warned. , from UPA. “We are on the edge of the precipice,” he said, while praising the support provided by the citizens of Murcia, and highlighted the success of the march and its “protective and peaceful” nature.
The president of Asaja, Alfonso Gálvez, made an appeal in defense of the Transfer, while urging the administrations to help the field. “If there are no solutions, we will propose tougher measures. If we decide to stop, society will go hungry. I’ll leave it there », he added.
The president of Coag-IR, José Miguel Marín, also called for quick solutions from politicians to curb high production costs, put an end to price speculation in the food chain, guarantee water and the Tagus-Segura Transfer, improve insurance agrarian, and avoid the ruin of the sector due to unfair competition from third countries. “The pandemic locked up citizens in their homes, but not us. We went out every day to produce food so that the population would not lack food, without knowing what we were facing with Covid. They told us that we were essential, important and strategic, but it was not true. Now they accuse us of mistreating animals and not respecting the environment. “They are not going to be able to turn society against us,” he added in reference to some groups.
Marín described the demonstration as “historic” and launched an SOS to prevent the field from dying: “Every day an exploitation is closed.” He showed his support for the ranchers of Lorca: “They have done nothing more than defend the interests of the sector.”
In the list of demands, the defense of the Tajo-Segura Transfer and the Huerta de Europa had a prominent role, with the same banners that were displayed last year at the demonstration before the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
PSOE and Vox, in the same demonstration
The political parties PP, PSOE, Vox and Ciudadanos were present with the assistance of public officials, deputies and mayors. On this occasion, the demands of the countryside brought together the PSOE and Vox in the same protest. The national leader of this formation, Santiago Abascal, traveled from Madrid to Murcia, where he arrived when the head of the demonstration was in front of the Government Delegation. Abascal got on a tractor while some shouted “president, president.”
The regional government participated with the councilors Antonio Luengo and Marcos Ortuño, as well as senior officials, deputies and mayors, including the councilor of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo, and that of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo. Previously, before the start of the march, the president of the Community, López Miras, had a meeting with the organizers in the Plaza de la Fuensanta to support their demands.
The mayor of Archena, Patricia Fernández, also attended with members of her corporation, although she paraded separately from the rest of the militants and leaders of the PP.
On behalf of Ciudadanos, its regional coordinator, María José Ros, and members of its executive attended; while the PSOE had an outstanding participation with the assistance of its regional deputy secretary and parliamentary spokesman, Francisco Lucas, together with Carmina Fernández, deputies and the mayors of Lorca, Molina de Segura and Águilas, Diego José Mateos, Eliseo García and Mari Carmen Moreno , among others.
The mobilization of the sector began at dawn throughout the Region, when the caravans of tractors, trucks and buses began their journey to Murcia, in four columns escorted by the Civil Guard. Most vehicles concentrated in La Fica to join the demonstration at 11 am. Murcia has brought together the largest concentration of tractors in memory.
Demonstrators from Alicante and Almería also attended. The Croem employers’ association was present with its leader José María Albarracín and members of the regional board; as well as the Ingenio Foundation through its general director, Natalia Corbalán, and members of the board of trustees.