Tension rises as the tractor protest in Rome comes to a head.
"We confirm that this evening there will be a tractor parade on the ring road."
This was said by Roberto Rosati, one of the spokespersons of the Abruzzo farmers who joined Riscatto Agricolo, the tractor protest on Via Nomentana in Rome.
"Only the time is to be established. It should be around 9pm", he added.
The agricultural redemption movement first launches a real "ultimatum" to the government, with the request for a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and with the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida.
And then, surprisingly, he cancels the demonstration called for today in the center of the capital.
"It is considered to bring only a delegation of 10 tractors to San Giovanni, as a symbol of the protest" communicated the movement in the afternoon, justifying the decision by not wanting to "further undermine the great support received up to now from all the citizens who have already many days they are supporting and inciting the farmers' resistance, despite the many inconveniences on the Italian roads".. And it is not excluded, at this point, that no tractor will reach Piazza San Giovanni.
In short, nothing has been decided yet and great confusion among the farmers themselves who, however, in confirming that they do not want to cause inconvenience to the city, explain the real reason for the cancellation: "it seems there is an opening" on the part of the government for a technical table with the prime minister and the minister.
So better to wait.
"Our objective is not the demonstration - they say not by chance - but that our points are addressed seriously".
The announcement to give up the sit-in in Piazza San Giovanni comes a few hours after the "ultimatum" given to the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida to arrange a face-to-face meeting.
"If he doesn't respond by Saturday at 12, our tractors will go free for the city" said Andrea Papa, one of the leaders of the movement born a few weeks ago and who has been creating a collection point for vehicles on Nomentana for days.
The response from the interested party was not long in coming.
"I have already met the farmers' delegations" and "we are meeting associations" says the minister from Berlin.
"I don't have the problem of meeting when I think they are good people", I have met "many delegations, or individuals or groups" he specifies, recalling that there is an "archipelago of situations", but that "there are some who are evidently used as testimonials of positions that have little to do with representation".
Meanwhile, the tug of war over participation in the Festival continues.
"If we cannot get on the Ariston stage, we will be forced to concentrate on Sanremo, starting from tomorrow, all the tractors of the Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria garrisons" say the farmers, rejecting the hypothesis of a statement read in direct.
But that of agricultural redemption is not the only soul of the protest and the divisions are evident.
The mobilization of the 'Cra Agricoltori traditi' led by the former pitchfork Danilo Calvani began today.
From dawn the six garrisons around the city began to fill in anticipation of a demonstration in the second half of next week.
"On the first day, around 300 tractors reached the gates of the capital - estimates Calvani - we expect thousands of vehicles for our great event".
At the collection points, tricolor flags and signs reading: "You are taking away our dignity" and "No farmers, no food".
And the majority is also creaking on the exemption from agricultural Irpef.
There is no shortage of sparks between the Lega and FdI after the postponement of the amendment to the Milleproroghe which was expected today.
"We believe it was a mistake for the government to cancel the exemption for 2024" thunders the leader of the League in the Chamber Riccardo Molinari.
The reply from FdI group leader Tommaso Foti arrives shortly: "It does not appear that any reservations were ever made during the examination and approval" of the maneuver by majority groups. I therefore see no reason to assign blame to the government ".
Throwing water on the fire is the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti who assures: "The intervention regarding the Irpef exemption for agricultural entrepreneurs who need effective support, possibly providing for specific exemptions, is currently being evaluated".
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