The microphone in Brussels has become a symbol of controversy

A massive protest by European farmers took place in Brussels, attracting around 10,000 participants from different countries. For Lithuania, it was an opportunity to make their demands loudly heard, but it also revealed a deep divide between the country's farmer organisations. Behind the scenes of the protest – disagreements, divergent views and residual bitterness.

Conflict at the scene

On the return of the Lithuanian farmers from Brussels, it became clear that there was a disagreement at the main stage of the protest. According to different sources, the incident was related to who was supposed to represent Lithuania and speak to the protesters.

Gedas Špakauskas, vice-chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers' Union (LŪS), who had registered in advance for the speech, was invited to speak, but the chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture (CEA), Arūnas Svitojus, rushed to the microphone.

During the incident, one of the representatives of the UAA tried to film the situation, but the filming was blocked by an activist of the Lithuanian Agricultural Council (LAC), to which the UAA belongs, who was holding a "Vytis" flag. The latter claimed that the flag had been stepped on and its pole broken. The LFA representative commented on the situation laconically, stating that he did not want to escalate the conflict publicly: "I have told the essential facts so that there is no information vacuum. That is enough. The flag has been defended“

The representative of the EAA involved in the incident could not be contacted.

This incident has also sparked debate in a wider context – some members of some organisations are considering whether it is worthwhile to continue to participate in the EAA. It should be recalled that the structure of the EAA had already suffered a split when some organisations left to form the Lithuanian Agricultural Council.

FAA chairman – it's rumours and intrigue

Arūnas Svitojus, President of the Lithuanian Chamber of Agriculture (ACA), denies that there have been serious conflicts among Lithuanian farmers in Brussels. He said that while incidents are inevitable at a large-scale event, this should not be exaggerated.

„About 10,000 people were present – so there were conflicts in general: bonfires were lit, people were fighting, expressing opinions, throwing potatoes. There were all sorts of things," says Svitojus.

When asked whether there were indeed any incidents among Lithuanians, Svitojus was not sparing of irony: "Ai, there is always something going on among Lithuanians. We are noblemen. We always have our own opinion that needs to be represented.

The President of the EAA stressed that the protest in Brussels was organised by the Copa-Cogeca organisation, of which the EAA is a member.„There are different opinions in the Lithuanian delegation, but everyone is friendly. Some support small farmers, others the oligarchs. However, all kinds of opinions should be tolerated," Svitojus continued, before referring to possible disagreements with the Lithuanian Agricultural Council (LAC) as unfounded.

„And what does the Council (LFA – author's note) have to do with it? The Council is not a member of Copa-Cogeca at all. What have they got to do with it? They cannot send a delegation because they are not members. I don't know anything, nobody has informed me that they are going to be there. It is all hearsay, perhaps. Once again, someone is scheming as usual. Apparently, the Council is not attending, and they are jealous that someone is attending. That's strange," wondered Mr Svitojus.

FA Vice-Chairman – it's a value tension

FA Vice-Chairman Vytautas Buivydas sees the situation as a temporary emotion caused by different value perceptions and lack of experience.

„This is not a conflict, but a question of leadership distribution and perception. Maybe it's jealousy – the EAA goes to Brussels all the time, it belongs to Copa-Cogeca“, – he stressed, adding that the symbolic signs seen during the protests could have also contributed to the tensions.

„On Mr Svitoy was a sign saying „Stop oligarchs in agriculture“. Maybe some people recognized themselves in it and got offended," said the ŽŪR vice-chairman.

At the end of the conversation, Buivydas said that the situation should not be commented on by those who express a position, but by those who are angry about it.

LUU Vice-Chairman – artificial provocations

Gedas Špakauskas, Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers' Union (LFA), representing the LFA, gives a very different version of events.

He said that the conflict was caused by the improper behaviour of the LFA in the joint delegation: „The delegation to Brussels was organised by the Council – it included all the main associations. Only a few people from the administration came from the EAA, but they behaved as if it was their own doing.

According to Mr Špakauskas, the incident at the stage, where the pre-registered representatives were supposed to speak, was a source of dissatisfaction.

„Mr Svitojus climbed on the stage out of turn, tried to speak, and had his microphone taken away. It was an unsightly act“, – commented the LŪS Vice-Chairman. He also noted that all the actions of the UFA representatives were public relations oriented.

„They were filming, taking photos, wearing the same vests. Obviously, it was all for the sake of piaro“, – Špakauskas listed the list and hinted that most probably after a while the EAA will just brag about how they organised, drove and protested. That is why, according to the LŪS Vice-Chairman, they wanted to distance themselves clearly. It was an artificial provocation on their part.