Farmers' protest at European Parliament turns violent: Polish MEP among those affected
The striking farmers demand that the EU's regulations, which impose further restrictive requirements on their farms, be rejected. They are calling for changes in tax systems, citing unfair foreign competition, and requesting modifications in EU environmental regulations.
Tensions escalated during the demonstration, with protesters throwing rocks and other objects at the police. Meanwhile, EU leaders were discussing financial matters related to Ukraine. In response to the inflamed tires and burning cardboard fueled by the agitated farmers, the police had to resort to using water cannons.
"Fire, firecrackers, a destroyed monument, hundreds of tractors, police dousing protestors with water, including a Polish MEP," - reports MEP Ryszard Czarnecki on the farmer protests.
Polish MEP injured during the farmers' strike in Brussels
As Interia's newsroom has learned, the person in question is Izabela Kloc, MEP from the Law and Justice Party (PiS). The politician participated in the demonstration along with other PiS MEPs. She stated that she sympathises with the demands of the protesting farmers and highlighted the poverty experienced by those working in the agricultural sector.
"I was at the protest identifying with the farmers' demands. We've been discussing what they're fighting for here in Brussels for five years now. The Green Deal, in reality, brings poverty and cold, not only cultural but also energy poverty," - said the politician in an interview with Interia.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11:30. "We were right in the thick of it, at the centre of the events. It was quite intense. Tires were on fire. Then, the police started firing tear gas, and water was gushing from water cannons. I, too, got hit," reported the MEP.
MEP Izabela Kloc noted that at one point it became dangerous. She stated that the police were dousing the entire square without considering that the water was also hitting the people.
"I understand that the water cannons could be used to extinguish the fire, but at one point they were indiscriminately firing water all over the square, not distinguishing between where it was burning and where it wasn't. People were screaming. We had to leave because it became very dangerous," said Kloc to Interia.
