PROPERTY SEARCH
ARCHIVED - Tractor protest against rising fuel and electricity prices hits the streets of Granada
More than 400 vehicles converged on the Andalucía city for the ‘tractorade’
Some 400 vehicles, consisting of around 350 tractors and 50 other cars, descended on the streets of Granada on Wednesday June 29 to form a caravan protesting against the rise in diesel and electricity prices.
The so-called ‘tractorade,’ which gathered supporters from across the province, set off along the Camino de Ronda at 10am this morning, demanding an urgent plan from the Spanish government to alleviate the burden faced by farmer and livestock holders in Andalucía.
The impressive protest was organised by Asaja, COAG, UPA and Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias, who are rallying against “the exorbitant rise in agricultural diesel, which continues to break records, currently standing at an average of 1.63 euros per litre, with peaks of 1.78 euros/litre at some pumps" as well as "the escalation of the electricity bill that is not contained with the latest measures adopted by the Government".
The caravan, marching under the slogan ‘The price of diesel, the ruin of the countryside,’ caused the flow of traffic to be cut off at various points of the city, although the protest proceeded peacefully.
Just last week, representatives from the farming community in Spain warned about the “critical” state of the sector, which has amassed losses of more than 32 million euros already this year. With fuel and electricity bills continuously rising, prices “are unaffordable for agricultural holdings and farmers.”
“Nothing has been resolved with the 20-cent fuel bonus since it came into force, when diesel was at 1.30 euros per litre, with an expiration date, moreover, on June 30, nor until now have the attempts to contain the rise of the megawatt/hour of electricity by putting caps on gas," lamented Gustavo Ródenas from Agro-Alimentary.
“We demand from the Government truly effective solutions that allow the agricultural and livestock sector to continue operating, through the reduction of the diesel bill (plastics and fertilizers) in the IRPF; the application of double electrical power for irrigators that allows them to save energy during the periods in which they do not irrigate; and the increase in the refund of the Special Tax on Hydrocarbons, currently 0.063 euros/litre, or, where appropriate, the return to subsidised professional diesel," he specified.
Earlier this week, the transport sector announced that self-employed truck drivers would not initiate a strike in July, provided that the Spanish government concedes to their demands for better working conditions by June 30.
Image: COAG
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
