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Tractor army gathers at the gates of Rome

The farmers are demanding a meeting with a government minister. Around 200 tractors also gathered near a motorway in Turin

By AFP
February 06, 2024
A convoy of tractors is seen in Monterosi, on its way to the outskirts of Rome, as part of an action by farmers to pressure the government to improve their working conditions, near Sutri, on February 5, 2024. — AFP
A convoy of tractors is seen in Monterosi, on its way to the outskirts of Rome, as part of an action by farmers to pressure the government to improve their working conditions, near Sutri, on February 5, 2024. — AFP

ROME: Dozens of Italian farmers with tractors started gathering on Monday on the edge of Rome vowing a major demonstration to pressure the government to improve their working conditions.

Italy is one of a number of countries across Europe where farmers have staged weeks of demonstrations to demand lower fuel taxes, better prices for their products and an easing of EU environmental regulations that they say makes it more difficult to compete with cheaper foreign produce.

Around fifty tractors from Tuscany headed towards the Via Nomentana, a main road into central Rome where they were expected Monday evening. Between 1,500 and 2,000 tractors are expected by Friday, Andrea Papa, co-founder of the Agricultural Renewal movement, told AFP.

The farmers are demanding a meeting with a government minister. Around 200 tractors also gathered near a motorway in Turin.