Spanish farmers’ protests block traffic across Spain

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spanish farmers officially began massive nationwide protests on Tuesday, tangling up traffic on dozens of highways.

Many of the biggest protests were organized by farmers through WhatsApp or other social networks, according to El Pais, overshadowing the ones organized by the three main farmers’ unions.

Demanding “fair prices,” the protests have cut off or disrupted traffic on major highways as well as access to some food distribution centers and industrial areas. El Pais reported that one protester was arrested in Castile and Leon for attacking a police officer.

The protests came amid massive farmers’ mobilizations in France, Brussels, and other EU countries, with many of the complaints directed at EU regulations.

On Tuesday, in a concession to farmers, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the bloc will scrap a controversial bill aimed at curbing the use of pesticides.

Within Spain, the main unions are demanding an end to “unfair competition” from outside the EU, more access to water resources amid a drought, and higher prices for produce.

- Free trade a sticking point

On Monday, Agriculture Minister Luis Planas gave assurances that the food supply is “absolutely guaranteed” amid the protests, which threaten to last for weeks.

Speaking to Catalunya Radio, he said that the Spanish government agreed with “nine out of ten” of the farmers’ demands. The one point of disagreement concerns farmers’ demands to cut free trade agreements with other countries.

“Because we are talking about €70 billion ($75.1 billion) in exports and a trade surplus of €14 billion,” Planas said.

Speaking to reporters at Barcelona Wine Week, he also accused the far-right Vox party of “using” farmers to “destabilize and start conflicts,” pointing to some platforms that are also protesting against the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Indeed, in some of Tuesday’s disruptive highway protests, large signs on tractors called for the end to Agenda 2030.

“The disastrous consequences that we’ve been denouncing since 2019 about Agenda 2030 and the European Green pact have destroyed the primary sector,” tweeted regional Vox leader Jose Ramirez del Rio on Tuesday. “Vox is the only party that defends farmers, fishers, and truck drivers in Spain.”

Spanish truck drivers, represented by the Plataforma association, have also called a strike in support of farmers starting on Saturday. The same group caused significant chaos for supply chains two years ago.

While Spain’s government does not support the truck drivers’ protests, Environment Minister Teresa Ribera called for “solidarity and empathy” with farmers.

Telling Spanish broadcaster RNE that farmers are on the front line of climate change and the drought crisis, she added that they “face a huge range of challenges that aren’t supported enough.”