Despite a strong police presence meant to stop them, striking farmers were able to push through to the Government building. Angry at low prices and late subsidies, the farmers threw apples and grapes in front of the police line in a sign of protest.

The fuel price is hiked by 80 percent and the fuel subsidies of 500 denars do nothing to cover it, farmers said.

The Government had attempted to deflate the protests by giving money to select groups of farmers, such as the rice growers and the dairy farmers. Agriculture Minister Trajan Dimkovski denied that the timing of the partial payments is linked to the protest and the Government’s desire to reduce the swelling anger.

The opposition VMRO-DPMNE party endorsed the protest.

VMRO-DPMNE will defend the interests of the farmers and we are putting in place policies to improve their standards. No matter what accusations come from the Agriculture Minister, he can’t hide the act that his policies have impoverished the farmers. We have stood by them and we will continue to stand by them, said VMRO leader Hristijan Mickoski.