Protest with tractors has far-reaching consequences

Update: Since yesterday (July 8), the farmers' protest, today for the eighth day in a row, has focused on the use of tractors as a means of demonstrating and changing the image in the media. Farmers Defense Force lost a lawsuit over the demonstration ban this morning. A majority in the House of Representatives rejects the protests in sometimes harsh terms.

But there is also an understanding of the emotions. For example with LTO Noord chairman Dirk Bruins, who lives in Dwingeloo - not far from waste processing in Wijster. "I tend to stand among the protesting colleagues, but public opinion may turn against us." Directors of the LTO department of arable farming were frankly outraged about the minister's aborted working visit to agricultural companies in Zeeland.
 

After a visit to an arable farm, where BO chairman André Hoogendijk presented the future vision of arable farming to Minister Schouten, Schouten decided yesterday to cancel a visit to a farm on the Zeeland island of Kamperland. According to the regional police, the reason for this decision was not an actual threat, but the location of the company to be visited. The minister had no way of dealing with a tractor blockade by farmers.

Political disapproval
Later in the day, MPs tumbled over each other to show their disapproval of this state of affairs. "Too sad for words", tweeted ChristenUnie Member of Parliament Dik-Faber. According to her, the minister (her party colleague) is known for always having conversations with farmers. That conversation makes one group of farmers impossible for the other group, party leader Gert-Jan Segers added on Twitter. Tjeerd de Groot (D66) goes much further by stating in the newspaper Trouw this morning that the farmers' protest is beginning to become an anti-democratic movement. Earlier this week, he filed a death threat.

Jaco Geurts (CDA) also emphasizes that no minister or politician should be made impossible to work, regardless of political color or opinion. But at the same time he says that he understands the emotions.

BoerBurgerBeweging candidate Femke Wiersma emphasizes that the protesting farmers in Zeeland had no intention of doing any harm and only wanted to force a conversation with the minister.
 

In the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, this is no longer allowed with tractors since Monday, for the duration of a week. This morning, summary proceedings instituted by Farmers Defense Force were filed with the court in Groningen. The judge ruled in their favor. Farmers Defense Force then announced that it would appeal. According to them, the tractor has become symbolic of the farmers' protest and no other means is more conspicuous than protesting with the tractor. 

Contrary to LTO, action group Agractie sided yesterday with the farmers' protest at the waste processing in Wijster, which was set up and carried out by local members under the banner of Farmers Defense Force.

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