Croatian Farmers Protest Against Budget Cuts

Zagreb | Photo by: Jaja Niseva

Croatia's Chamber of Agriculture organised the protest to demand the government cancel cuts of one billion kuna (130 million euros) and pay farmers agricultural subsidies for last year worth 2.8 billion kuna (340 million euros).

Demonstrations got under way in all of Croatia's inland counties, protest leader Stjepan Kunovec said.

There had been speculation that farmers would block roads with their tractors but that did not happen, partly due to the fact that tractors were frozen in the cold weather.

Antun Laslo, president of Community of Farmers from the Slavonia and Baranja regions said larger protests could be held after the snow melts and temperatures rise. He did not exclude the possibility of road blockades.

Government ministers have previously bowed to the demands of farmers after they blocked main roads with their tractors. But today's protest was the first against a new centre left government elected on December 4 last year.