The rural anger in Europe has found a tense echo in Italy. After days of near continuous demonstrations, several farming groups in Italy are voicing their resolve to keep protesting in the Italian capital this week. The aim is to present a united front in Rome as farmers from across the country have been urged to join the mobilization that last week brought long lines to some of Italy’s major roads and led to clashes with police.
But groups such as Riscatto Agricola (Agricultural Rescue) moved out early on Monday, with hundreds of tractors taking strategic positions along the A1 motorway, the route toward Rome where blockades have been set up in recent days. Additional protest hubs have emerged near the city, with four points identified as focal areas for continued action. Other farming associations are also signaling a strong show of force in the days ahead, signaling a coordinated effort to press demands.
The message from the demonstrators is clear: they intend to press their claims with a firm grip on the capital. One leader, Danilo Calvani, who heads a smaller faction called CRA Agriculture Betrayed, warned that these days represent the visible face of the movement. He stressed that political interference would only fragment the farmers’ goals and vowed that the protests would stay focused on concrete agricultural concerns rather than political theater.
Capitalizing on discontent
The protests have continued under the banner of discontent toward the European Union policies, originally framed around the Green Deal as a wake-up call for reforms that farmers perceive as harmful to their livelihoods. The movement also targets the Italian government, while discussions unfold as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travels abroad. One organizer noted that if political leaders want to mock the farmers, they should expect a tougher stance; if leaders can deliver tangible changes, the farmers are ready to consider dialogue, though skepticism remains high.
The rhetoric surrounding the movement has drawn attention from major political figures. Matteo Salvini, the head of the far-right League, has urged leveraging farmer dissatisfaction and has framed EU policies as anti-agricultural and economically reckless. He signaled support for the farmers’ stance and called for policy shifts that would protect domestic farming interests.
The stance of the League has sparked further debate within the party, with some members challenging the more confrontational language. Massimiliano Romeo, who chairs the League’s parliamentary group in the Senate, has described the European Green Deal as a source of confusion and criticized the idea of emissions restrictions in Europe while allowing imports from outside Europe that fail to meet European standards. His remarks underscore the tension between supporting farmers and maintaining trade norms that involve diverse global producers.