Convoys of tractors disrupted traffic around the Spanish capital on Wednesday as farmers protesting against what they see as excessive red tape and insufficient state aid converged in downtown Madrid to march towards the Agriculture Ministry.
Farmers have been protesting for weeks across Europe, most recently in Poland, Greece, and the Czech Republic. They all call for less bureaucracy linked to the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy and a loosening of the bloc’s environmental rules.
As they waited for five columns of tractors to reach the gathering point at the central Independence Square, protesters in yellow vests waved Spanish, regional, and union and rang cow bells there while blaring music from loudspeakers.
Traffic around the Puerta de Alcala monument ground to a halt, with several buses unable to continue their routes as farmers crowded the streets.
Once the tractors arrived, there were scuffles with police as the farmers attempted to march along Alcala Street, a different route than initially planned. Officers in riot gear held the line, blocking the protesters’ advance, even as several tractors approached them.
Other participants moved toward the ministry along a parallel street, following the official itinerary.
