Mayor of Antwerp and leader of N-VA Bart De Wever has expressed firm disapproval over ongoing farmers' blockades during a trip to Ecuador.
Speaking on Radio 1's De Ochtend programme on Thursday morning, the right-wing politician stated that he had "no sympathy" for the protests that have rocked several European cities in the past few weeks.
"You can protest in many ways, but I have never had any sympathy for one that holds other people up, orchestrates dangerous situations and damages the economy. And I have absolutely no sympathy for it this time," he said in reference to blockades occurring around the Port of Antwerp.
De Wever is currently in Ecuador along with the mayors of Rotterdam and Hamburg, two of the largest European port cities. The entourage aims to bolster the fight against cocaine trafficking routes from South America to Europe, and the farmers' protests were briefly addressed in this context.
A protest led by farmers' union ABS at Kallo lock near the Port of Antwerp on Wednesday 31 January 2024. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
The mayor said he understands the farmers' anger but suggested that it is often "misdirected." He commented, "If I were a farmer, I would also be very angry about European regulations. Nevertheless, it is essential to consider who approved this in Europe and who did not. Those promising a European solution are the ones who caused these problems in the first place."
At a regional level, De Wever's separatist conservative party N-VA is responsible for the nitrogen decree, a major bone of contention for Flemish farmers.
Nitrogen emission in Flanders far exceeds EU limits and politicians have been struggling to cut emissions without inflicting damage on one of the region's key industries. Nevertheless, trade unions denounced the final outcome, with farmers' union Boerenbond criticising the decree as having "shaky foundations" despite months of gruelling negotiations.
During the interview, De Wever downplayed farmers' ire towards the regional government. "Court rulings made the nitrogen issue a thorny one. Whatever people were told about it, it was the best decree we could pass."
