Henryk Kowalczyk, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, resigned. Deputy Prime Minister’s statement

Henryk Kowalczyk has been Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development since October 26, 2021. – Since it is very clear that this basic demand of farmers will not be met, I have made the decision to resign as the minister of agriculture and rural development – ​​said Kowalczyk during Wednesday’s statement.

In recent weeks, we have been dealing with growing dissatisfaction of farmers who have a number of comments about the government’s policy. For several days, there has been a protest in front of the Provincial Office in Szczecin, farmers are demanding, among others, regulation of the grain issue Ukraine. The protesters broke the so-called Green Town.

Demonstrating farmers in recent weeks disrupted events involving Kowalczyk. This was the case, e.g. in Kielce, when the minister of agriculture had to be evacuated from the hall at a farmers’ fair after being surrounded by farmers who whistled and chanted vulgar slogans. Protesters they also disturbed Kowalczyk’s speech during the agricultural forum in Jasionka. Some of the protesters threw eggs at the minister.

Last Wednesday, a round table was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the situation on the market in connection with the amount of Ukrainian grain imported to Poland. After the meeting preliminary agreement was announcedsigned by the Minister of Agriculture with other organizations associating farmers. The document signed by, among others, Kowalczyk and the leader of AgroUnia, Michał Kołodziejczak, contained 11 points.

Prime Minister on Tuesday Mateusz Morawiecki during the press conference, he asked all circles that participated in the roundtable to stick to the signed agreement. According to the head of the government, “something valuable” was developed. – I respect everyone, including the protesters, let’s give ourselves a chance for dialogue, let’s give ourselves a chance to fill this agreement with content – Morawiecki said. The Prime Minister asked the protesting farmers to give the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development time to act on the market.