Tánczos Barna: “The farmers’ protest was hijacked and turned into acts of vandalism by people who do not represent the interests of farmers”

Acting Minister of Agriculture, Tánczos Barna, condemned on Tuesday the violence and acts of vandalism that took place in Victory Square, stating that the farmers’ protest had been hijacked by people who do not represent the interests of farmers.

The official said that the right to peaceful protest is legitimate, but cannot be turned into assaults against law enforcement officers. Tánczos Barna welcomed the position of the 14 representative associations of sheep breeders, which distanced themselves from the violence. A delegation of these associations was received at the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday afternoon.

The minister stated that many of the farmers’ demands are justified and that the institution he heads will continue dialogue with them and with the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority. Following discussions held after the previous protest by sheep breeders, ANSVSA sent the European Commission an action plan to unblock exports of sheep and goats. The document is to be analyzed at the end of the week by representatives of the 27 member states.

Tánczos Barna urged farmers to reject any attempt to use their demands for political purposes or to hijack them.