On Wednesday, farmers, foresters and surveyors came to Bratislava on 120 tractors as a peaceful protest to point to the unfair system pushing down small farmers in Slovakia. Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini invited them to participate in Wednesday's government session.
"Unfortunately, we left the session learning that everything works as it is supposed to. We only heard conclusions that the Agriculture Ministry is working and it has long-term goals. However, we are of the clear opinion that nothing constructive which would push Slovak agriculture forward was said [on Wednesday]," stated Patrik Magdoško of the Farmers' Initiative after the session. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) said that it had been constructive and many of the discontented farmers' demands had long been resolved or were in the process of being solved.
Agriculture Minister Gabriela Matečná (Slovak National Party/SNS) stated on Wednesday that the protesting farmers in Bratislava were representing their own objectives and not the interests of farmers in general. Moreover, she views the protest as political activity by the opposition.
"They say that they can't provide for their families, but the tractors they came on cost more than €150,000 to €200,000. The costs for travelling [on the tractors] from Košice to Bratislava add up to approximately €6,000," said Matečná on Wednesday.
Regarding the fact Matečná called their protest a political act by the opposition, Patrik Magdoško of the initiative said that he considers it absurd and may file a criminal complaint against the minister for her words. A group of protesting farmers also blocked on Wednesday afternoon one of the main streets in Bratislava, the street in the direction of the SNP Bridge. After the blockade, which affected the public transport, farmers apologised to the public and invited them to a barbecue on the banks of Danube, where they parked their tractors.
The environmental initiative My sme les also showed their support for the farmers' protest. In less than 24 hours, more than 21 thousand people signed their open letter asking for the resignation of Agriculture Minister Gabriela Matečná.
