Italy's deputy premier blames European Commission president for farmers’ protests in Europe

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini blames European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the wave of farmers’ protests sweeping across Europe, local media reported Wednesday.

“Farmers with tractors on the roads all over Europe have a problem with the current European Commission," Salvini told reporters at the European Parliament in Brussels, according to the state-run ANSA news agency.

"Most of their issues are about the crazy, pseudo-green European policies that disregard farmers, fishers and truck drivers,” he added.

Saying that Europe has prioritized ideology over labor, Salvini said “in recent years, Europe has been a disaster, a disaster for savers, for homeowners, for motorists, for farmers, for truck drivers and for workers.”

Asked about the prospect of von der Leyen serving a second term at the helm of the European Commission, he replied: "I personally wouldn't vote for her."