Four tractors driven by farmers
representing Agricultural Redemption, one of the several groups
involved in the peaceful tractor protests gripping Italy against
European and national agricultural policies and general hardship
in the sector, drove past the Colosseum on Friday morning as
part of a small demonstration in the city.
The tractors, sounding their horns and escorted by police
vehicles, were greeted with applause, thumbs-up signs and kisses
as they made their drive-past before heading for Circo Massimo.
"For the first time tractors have entered the heart of the
capital without flags behind them. It is a great result," said
Agricultural Redemption leader Salvatore Fais.
Of the increasingly evident divisions within the tractor protest
movement, he said: "Each group has the same problems and each
one wages its own battles".
The group also said that the tractor procession on Rome's
motorway ring road scheduled for Friday evening would start at
8pm.
"We confirm that tonight at 8 p.m. we will leave from the
rallying point on Via Nomentana and we will drive around the
whole of the ring road and then return to the rallying point to
await good news from Minister Lollobrigida for the meeting,"
said Roberto Rosati, another spokesperson for the group.
Agricultural Redemption have asked for a meeting with Premier
Giorgia Meloni and Farm Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and have
given them until 12 am on Saturday to reply.
It it gets a negative answer it has said it will "unleash" its
tractors around the capital.
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