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Massive protest in Strasbourg: farmers "siege" the European Parliament against the EU-Mercosur agreement
2026-01-20 21:43:33 / BOTA
Thousands of farmers from several European Union countries gathered this Tuesday in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in protest against the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur, on the eve of the vote on the appeal to the European institutions.
Farmers from France, Italy, Belgium and Poland arrived in the area at midday, many on tractors, temporarily blocking roads around parliament. Police estimated that around 5,500 people took part in the protest.
During the afternoon, the situation became tense. Some protesters threw bottles and agricultural products at the security forces, while the police intervened with tear gas to disperse the crowd. Smoke bombs and flares were seen in the square, while the protest was accompanied by shouts and whistles.
Ursula von der Leyen was at the center of the farmers' anger after signing a free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Some protesters held banners against the European Commission, while a symbolic coffin with her name was also displayed.
"The European Commission has abandoned us," declared Copa-Cogeca, the organization representing the main farmers' unions in the EU, warning of serious consequences for European agriculture.
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