Farmers’ protest in Bucharest turns violent

Some 1,000 farmers protested today in Bucharest in front of the government’s headquarters, accusing the authorities of leaving them in the lurch and asking for the resignation of Daniel Constantin, the ministry of agriculture, informs Mediafax.

The protest turned violent around 14:00 when police forces launched tear gas after protesters started throwing security fences. Two participants were arrested.

The protesters are members of the Romania Agricultural Producers Associations League (LAPAR), the Romanian Cattle Owners’ Federation and Holstein.ro. Their main discontent is the low level of subventions received this year, according to Mediafax.

The government’s reaction

The ministry has made an effort to increase support schemes this year despite a low budget and today’s protest is politically motivated, was the official reaction from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Unfortunately both LAPAR and Holstein.ro don’t act on behalf of the farmers they should represent but rather political interests. Costel Caras, the president of Holstein.ro is also the president of a political party (e.n. Farmers’ Popular Party) and this completely undermines today’s protest. It is also important to mention that the name of today’s protest is the same as the one of the censure motion submitted by the opposition,” reads the ministry’s press release.

According to the same source, the direct payment farmers receive was increased from EUR 133 per hectare last year to EUR 176 in 2012 (de minimis financial support scheme for drought stricken farmers included) , reads the ministry’s press release.

Financial support for cattle owners too was increased from RON 410 per cow last year to RON 500 in 2012, said ministry representatives.