Czech farmers blocked traffic in Prague on Thursday, clogging the streets with hundreds of tractors and other vehicles to protest the government and agricultural policies set by the European Union.
Public transport was paralyzed during the morning rush hour in several districts of the Czech capital. The street leading to the government office, where protesters planned to present their demands, was completely blocked.
“Our goal is not to block traffic in Prague, but to present the problems of agriculture”said Martin Pycha, director of the Czech Agricultural Association, one of the organizers of the protest.
He apologized for the inconvenience caused to Prague commuters.
A similar demonstration, involving farmers driving their tractors, was held in Prague a month ago.
Tens of thousands of farmers and supporters have protested across Europe in recent weeks to express their frustration over a range of problems, from cheap, insufficiently regulated imports to burdensome environmental rules and bureaucracy.
Czech farmers, in particular, are demanding a reduction in the taxation of agricultural land ownership and want the subsidies they receive from the EU to be tax-exempt. They also complain about low prices for their products and say grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine and other countries are harming the market.
Some farmers held up banners on Thursday that read: “We want equal conditions” and “_Stop the liquidation of Czech agriculture”.
The government appeared keen to let farmers have their say.
“I respect everyone’s right to protest and I am ready for a fair discussion with farmers,” said Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny. But when Vyborny addressed the farmers, they booed him and demanded his resignation.
