“As a matter of fact, this Government sympathises with the farmers’ concerns, especially when considering the very real and substantial hardships farmers in Europe have had to face in the past years,” it continued.

It went on to say that the protests to be held in Malta are primarily aimed at the European Parliament and its institutions, who have always been “completely cut off from the realities they have had to live through.”

It went on to explain how “on the contrary, the Maltese Government has always been close to the sector, implementing courageous and important reforms”, detailing the different manners in which they have been a “good support system” to the Maltese farming industry.

Yesterday, PN MEP candidate Agius took to his Facebook to share that he had been approached by “four farmers and villagers who received a phone call in the Minister’s name with instructions to not associate with any of the farmers’ protests.”

“I condemn the anti-democratic behaviour portrayed by Minister Anton Refalo who is trying to intimidate farmers and villagers from protesting, just like others are doing throughout all of Europe,” Agius wrote.

The protest, organised by the Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, is set to begin at 11.30 am today at the vegetable market, passing through Attard, Mosta, Lija, Birkirkara, Msida, Pietà, and concluding in Floriana.

This 12-kilometre demonstration drive welcomes participation from food producers across various sectors. The initiative follows a series of similar protests in several EU countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania in recent weeks.

What do you make of this development?