Tractor Protest in Rome, New Demonstrations

About 170 tractors blocked traffic on Nomentana street in Rome at the height of civic 1,141. Local Police patrols from the III Nomentano Group were on the spot and had to proceed to close the road in the stretch between Sora Lella avenue and the Gra. Tractors in Rome, new protest. Further units of the local police are providing assistance for traffic services in the area. The tractors, which were returning from Colleverde to the Nomentana street garrison, have now resumed their march after a negotiation with the police forces. 'We have blocked traffic because we want answers. The Minister of Agriculture receives us'. Salvatore Fais, one of the leaders of the farmers in the square today in Rome, said this. Agricultural Irpef, 50% relief for incomes between 10 and 15 thousand euros. The garrison in Rome was dissolved. Two tractors arrived in the Republic square, in the center of Rome, instead from the Nomentana street garrison. 'There are many of us - says Roberto Rosati, one of the organizers - and other participants are arriving'. This morning, from the same garrison, a procession of 150 tractors also started towards Monterotondo, outside the city. 'The roadblock - explains Roberto Rosati, among the promoters of the mobilization - was a personal choice of some and not discussed with others. Most of the vehicles were blocked because the road was closed and it was not possible to pass to return to the garrison'. Everything happened at the end of a procession of 150 tractors, escorted by the police, which started this morning from the gathering point on Nomentana towards Monterotondo. On the way back, some vehicles stopped in the middle of the road, interrupting circulation. Only after 7pm the road was 'freed'. The block occurred while the second demonstration of the day was still in progress at the Republic square, in the center of the capital. 'We are more than 500 farmers from all regions' Rosati had explained, adding: 'Now we will return to the garrison and give ourselves a unitary name. We will ask to be received by the Minister of Agriculture and to have a direct relationship in important decisions with a permanent technical table. There are immediate points to be addressed starting from the right price of the products'. The demonstrators displayed banners 'We fight to save agriculture' and 'We are not slaves of Europe'. Two tractors also reached the center of Rome. 'The citizens welcomed our appeal and waved several tricolors at our passage this morning' Rosati added, who then extended an invitation to the Pope: 'Thanking the Holy Father again for the attention on Sunday, we invite him to our garrison on Nomentana street where he will find the tractor and the cow Ercolina that we donated to him'. The road was then reopened.