Spanish truck drivers stand in solidarity with farmers at the Vila Verde de Ficalho border

Spanish truck drivers stranded at the border of Vila Verde de Ficalho, municipality of Serpa (Beja), due to the closure of the national road 260 (EN260) by Alentejo farmers, said this Thursday that they understand the protest, leaving them with only one option to return to the base.

“I didn’t know anything about the protest. If I had information earlier, I would not have come here, our boss would probably have told us not to leave the base,” Mario Matei, one of the few Spanish truck drivers who, in the sense of the road for those coming from a neighboring country, it still remains next to the tractor blockade.

Only a few truck drivers were still parked in the area in the hope that the road would soon be open, but Mario, who had come from Seville and sent a truck with a container to Azambuja, had already made up his mind.

“My company has already told me to turn around as soon as I can and return to Spain, and that is what I am going to do,” he assured, explaining that he arrived at 06:00 to the blockade that Farmers had lined up on the EN260 highway shortly after 03:00, using mainly tractors and farm equipment, crossing the road in successive rows.

Despite the inconvenience, since since he would not reach the destination of his trip he would not be charged, Mario Matei showed solidarity with the “people of the land” of the Alentejo, with whom he did not speak or approach.

“Each person demands what is convenient for him, that’s all. They have their right, and we also have our right to turn around and go back. When we truckers had to demand this, we also protested, so everyone is with you,” he objected.

EN260 is cut in both directions, still a few kilometers from the neighboring country, where the first destination for those arriving in Spain from Portugal is Rosal de la Frontera, “accustomed” to the coexistence of Spanish and Portuguese.

Before leaving Portugal, Lusa noted, heading to a Spanish city, two members of the PNP carried out police activities and prevented passage into Portuguese territory.

On the Spanish side, about five trucks can be immediately seen parked at the gas station, and in the park ahead, at the entrance to Rosal de la Frontera, where members of the Civil Guard are also warning motorists and truck drivers about the blockade in Portugal, about 20 more trucks are parked , especially since there is not enough room for more.

Sitting on a wall next to the trucks and basking in the morning sun, a group of truck drivers exchange ideas about the protest and how long it will last.

David Castellano is among a group of three truck drivers traveling from Huelva towards Barreiro, whose trucks transport fertilizer to agricultural fields. They were already standing in line for the tractors, but managed to return to Rosal and are now waiting for the commander’s order to return to the base.

“I completely understand the farmers’ protest. Everyone must unite because the more we unite, the stronger we will be and the more solutions we will have. At the end of the day, the problem affects everyone, in all our homes we have problems that farmers have too,” he said.

This Thursday, farmers took to the streets with their tractors, from north to south, demanding recognition of the sector and fair conditions in a protest that is expected to block several roads, as has happened in other parts of Europe.