Romania truck drivers, farmers protest again as negotiations with government fail to reach agreement
ABC News
Romanian truck drivers and farmers are protesting again across the country again as negotiations with the coalition government over lower taxes, higher subsidies and other demands failed to reach any agreements
BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romanian truck drivers and farmers protested across the country again on Monday as negotiations with the coalition government over lower taxes, higher subsidies and other demands failed to reach any agreements.
Long convoys of trucks and tractors disrupted traffic on the outskirts of Bucharest and other cities throughout the European Union nation. It was the sixth straight day of demonstrations.
Farmers are demanding faster subsidy payments, compensation for losses caused by imports from neighboring Ukraine, and more state aid for fuel costs, among other demands. Truck drivers are calling for lower tax and insurance rates and have complained about lengthy waiting times at the borders.
Meetings between the protesters and the agriculture and transport ministries were held over the weekend but no agreements were reached. The demonstrators on Saturday also caused brief blockades at the border with Ukraine in the northeast, Ukrainian border authorities said on Telegram.
On Monday, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called for an “urgent drafting” of legislation to resolve the protesters’ complaints.
