Traders, farmers and truckers on a war footing. Dear diesel, Murgia: "It's speculation"

They leave the council chamber after a crowded popular assembly and an intense question and answer session with the regional councilor for agriculture. Farmers, traders, truck drivers and artisans gather in front of the Municipality of Serramanna, a town that welcomes Gabriella Murgia with 90 percent of the shutters lowered in protest against the high prices.

Efisio Lai, a 52-year-old farmer, greets the representative of the Giunta Solinas and immediately breaks the delay: «There is not only the question of the cost of diesel fuel, there are many problems that we have been dragging on for years. We ask you for urgent interventions, but not only. The Region must raise its voice with the Government ».

"I am here to listen to you and to talk about what we have done to meet the demands of the productive categories", replies Murgia in the square invaded by the tractors that have guarded the Town Hall for a week. “Ours is a peaceful protest. We cannot live in uncertainty eternally. We do not want to hear promises, but only answers ”, underlines Davide Lilliu, a merchant of 31 years after having led the procession that crossed the streets of the town.

The expensive prices

Shortly after 11 in the council chamber, after the greetings of the administrators, the interventions came. The price of fuel is in control. Farmers recall that agricultural diesel reached € 1.60 per liter. An "evil" that unites the whole world of the countryside, represented by the farmers who arrived from Samassi, Villasor, Villacidro, Serrenti and Sanluri.

"Something has moved", the commissioner begins, quickly illustrating the innovations envisaged in the latest energy decree and recalling that the Sardinian economic system has been severely tested by pandemics, floods, droughts and now by the consequences of the war in Ukraine. "The events of recent times - said Gabriella Murgia - force us to think about food sovereignty, energy production, reducing costs".

Farmers present in court are demanding account of the 2017 drought compensation not yet paid. Murgia replies that it was an administrative mess which is being remedied. Rain of questions also on expensive fuels and on wind and photovoltaic parks.

"Go to Rome"

"Councilors and regional councilors go to Rome to protest," shouts the owner of a bakery in Serramanna. "These reckless increases began long before the war in Ukraine - he concludes - people are no longer able to buy bread".