News Nitrogen
Farmer's protest on Malieveld modest in scale
The farmers' protest in The Hague today (June 29) was ultimately the smallest of scale in recent years. Although organizer Farmers Defense Force (FDF) had previously indicated that they were counting on many thousands of farmers and supporters, that number ultimately turned out to be much lower. The protest was peaceful, although the police reported seven arrests.
The municipality of The Hague had decided this morning to designate Malieveld as a protest location, after it became clear that the protest would probably take place in front of the temporary House of Representatives. The municipality of The Hague thought that location was too small. That is why mayor Jan van Zanen decided to move the protest, to the annoyance of Farmers Defense Force. In the end, the farmers ended up on the Malieveld after all. Tractors were not to be seen on the Malieveld, but there was a stage truck. From that stage, FDF frontman Mark van den Oever and Member of Parliament Wybren van Haga addressed the audience. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas was also on the agenda, but withdrew because she believes that the FDF has not distanced itself enough from threats and intimidation of CDA MPs and the distribution of their telephone numbers, she writes on Twitter. For that reason, SGP member of parliament Roelof Bisschop also did not come.
Participants in the protest still tried to go to the House of Representatives. The demonstrators want to follow the agricultural debate from the public gallery, something that is allowed in principle. But the group would be too large for the public gallery.
Arrests
As of this morning, an emergency order was issued in The Hague early this morning, with which tractors are not allowed to enter the city. Several tractors were removed from the A28. Drivers have also been arrested in other places or the road has been closed for them. Seven people were arrested on and around the protest in The Hague. According to the police, this happened because of non-compliance with a claim and because of abuse. Two police officers suffered minor injuries during an arrest. One of the people arrested is the driver of the stage truck.
The reason for the protest is the debate about the collapse of the negotiations on the Agricultural Agreement, which is taking place today in the House of Representatives.
Max van der Heyden
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