A dozen farmers appeared in the parliamentary corridor and accompanied the Confederation MPs at the press conference. When it was over, they went to the stairs. They plan to start a sit-in strike at the parliament building. These are representatives of the “Orca Agricultural Association”.
Farmers who have started a sit-in strike in the Sejm are demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. They want to talk about the ‘Green Deal’. One of the protesters, asked by Polsat News about the actions of Deputy Minister Kołodziejczak, said that “he is a traitor” who “does not support the agricultural community.”
On Thursday, in an interview with PAP, when asked whether he was ready to meet with the farmers occupying the Sejm, Kołodziejczak replied in the affirmative, but added that the conversation should take place at the Ministry of Agriculture, and not at the Ministry of Agriculture. occupied Sejm.
I still understand the ministry’s occupation, but such things that happen in the Sejm, when many problems have been resolved, because they have some unfulfilled political ambitions, are a farce. This destroys the image of a farmer, that’s how it should be done, I don’t know who cares about that. (…) They make ploughs, but in the image of Polish farmers. Let them focus on creating new leaders in rural Poland, because they are clearly lacking
– he said.
When asked if he felt like a traitor because farmers said such words to him, he replied:
I can only regret them.
He added that if farmers really want to talk, they should not demand a meeting with the Prime Minister but appear at the Ministry of Agriculture.
This is a place to talk
– he emphasized.
Siekierski “observes the situation”
Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development spoke about the farmers’ protest.
PAP asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for comment on the matter. The ministry responded that Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski is “monitoring the situation.” The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also announced that a meeting with representatives of Solidarity of Individual Farmers is currently underway ahead of the strike in Warsaw announced for Friday.
The strikers’ representative in the Sejm, Mariusz Borowiak of the Orka Agricultural Union, told journalists that farmers are protesting against the ‘Green Deal’ and the opening of the border to products from Ukraine.
There are a dozen peasants in the Sejm. They wear bright green vests.
The demonstrators sitting on the ground at the entrance to the Sejm Gallery were asked by the marshal guard to go to a nearby table where press conferences are held. Journalists record them there. Former Agriculture Minister Robert Telus (PiS) and Confederation MP Grzegorz Braun also joined the demonstrators.
Sit-in strike
Farmers from the “Orka” union received Confederation parliamentarians for the first time at a press conference. They remained in the Sejm corridor and announced that they were starting a sit-in strike – just like parents of disabled people in previous terms of the Sejm.
We’re not here because we’re bored and have nothing to do. We have work to do, believe me. We were put against the wall, literally against the wall, as we are now
– said one of the farmer representatives in a conversation with journalists.
When asked whether, in addition to Law and Justice politicians Kukiz’15 and Konfederacja, other parliamentarians had also approached them and whether anyone from the ruling coalition had spoken to the demonstrators, they replied:
We have not yet had such signals. We just wait. If anyone wants that, we’re happy to do it. But we’re not going anywhere, we’re just talking here. We don’t want to go to clubs or rooms. We are ordinary farmers, we don’t need to go to salons, we feel great here, we will be ourselves and that’s all.
One of the journalists asked whether it would be better to contact the Prime Minister’s Office or the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The farmer replied:
Since December, all unions have been trying to meet Mr Donald. They try to figure out the specific decisions that are missing.
Our organization looks further than this. We can no longer be misled by promises. So far the government has bought all the others, it was enough that the camera recorded them, some of them were able to sign something that they had not read. We will not sign anything
– added.
We demand that the problem of the Green Deal is solved
– he concluded.
“We are not bandits, villains”
We came here. And today we want to protest against the Green Deal+, against opening the border to products flowing into the country from Ukraine. We would like someone to finally take us farmers very seriously
– the farmers’ representative told reporters.
He added that farmers will not leave Parliament until the Prime Minister meets them. They announced that they would alternate in the Sejm with representatives of other agricultural unions.
We will not leave this Sejm until Mr. Donald Tusk meets us. We would like to stay here. We would like to ask Marshal (Szymon) Hołownia to allow us to stay here and protest legally. Defend your cause, defend your agriculture
– he said.
We are not bandits here, we are not villains. We want to protest in a civilized manner and manifest our problems in agriculture
– added the representative of the demonstrators.
He emphasized that they did not want to politicize their protest and sent an invitation request to MPs from all clubs. They entered the Sejm on the passes of the Confederation and PiS.
Farmers have gathered in the Sejm and expect talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. They protest against the Green Deal. They announce a protest in the style of the protest organized in the Sejm by people with disabilities and their families
Tomorrow there will be a major protest in Warsaw against the Green Deal. The farmers will also be joined by postal workers, but also by other citizens who oppose harmful directives from Brussels.
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aja/PAP, tvp.info
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.