Farmers in Poland’s lower house of parliament (Sejm) have commenced a hunger strike in the hope of securing a meeting with PM Donald Tusk. 

The demonstration, initiated by a group of eleven farmers from the Orka Farmers Union last Thursday, is a plea for dialogue regarding the EU Green Deal. Mariusz Borowiak, a member of the union, declared that the farmers have transitioned their protest strategy from a sit-in to a hunger strike commencing on Monday.

“The reason we demand this meeting is that no one here (Sejm) represents the interests of real farmers” – he explained. He further criticised Prime Minister Tusk’s selection of advisors, alleging their incompetence in advocating for farmer interests. Borowiak also lambasted Deputy Agriculture Minister Michał Kołodziejczak, accusing him of launching attacks and defamation against the protesting farmers in the media.

Throughout the weekend, the farmers remained encamped in the Sejm, bedding down on the floor. They rebuffed an offer from Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski, insisting on confining negotiations to the Sejm premises.

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The hunger strike proceeded despite the final approval by the Council of the European Union on Monday for amendments to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), anticipated to relax certain decarbonisation requirements in agriculture.

These revisions encompass exemptions for farmers from the mandate to designate a minimum portion of their arable land to non-productive uses, such as fallow land. Additionally, small farms are slated to be spared from inspections and penalties for non-compliance with CAP regulations.

Image: East News/Adam Burakowski 

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen