On Friday, French farmers took their tractors into central Paris, exerting renewed pressure on President Emmanuel Macron. Initially, Macron had pledged to meet with them to address their concerns, but he subsequently canceled the scheduled meeting.
French farmers have actively participated in a pan-European movement opposing stringent environmental regulations and the influx of inexpensive imports from non-European Union countries. Their demonstrations also serve as a protest against inadequate income levels
French tractors roll into Paris to protest 'agri-bashing' https://t.co/2DQSK6UBce pic.twitter.com/WYnj6fT4Q3
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 27, 2019
They have insisted on a government response before the Salon de l’Agriculture, the renowned national agricultural fair, commences in Paris on Saturday.
“The intention was to apply some additional pressure ahead of the fair’s opening,” explained Damien Greffin, a cereal farmer and the regional leader of the primary farmers’ union FNSEA in the Paris area.
Last month, farmers across the nation took to the streets, demanding reforms from the government. Their protests were fueled by concerns over environmental regulations, competition from cheap imports, and persistently low incomes. The government pledged to address their grievances, but tensions escalated when President Emmanuel Macron canceled a meeting with the farmers after initially promising it.
However, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s recent measures, announced on Wednesday, failed to quell the protesters. Now, all eyes are on President Emmanuel Macron, who is set to attend the annual agricultural fair this Saturday. The farmers’ movement remains strong, with continued roadblocks, tire fires, and supermarket sieges. Authorities are finding it challenging to control the situation in some parts of the country. Despite the twists and turns, the farmers’ determination remains unwavering as they advocate for their rights and livelihoods
On Thursday, Macron said he would hold a debate there involving “all actors in the agriculture world” to “outline the future” of the sector.
However, the initiative encountered initial challenges when French President Emmanuel Macron extended an invitation to the radical ecology group “Soulevements de la Terre” (translated as “Uprisings of the Earth”). This group has been at the center of controversy, with the interior minister even attempting to ban them by labeling them as “eco-terrorists” .
Following widespread protests from farming unions, opposition politicians, and even internal dissent within the government, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office reversed its decision to include the radical ecology group “Soulevements de la Terre” in the agricultural debate. The group was uninvited, and the official statement cited an administrative error as the reason for this change.
However, the repercussions were already felt, as FNSEA leader Arnaud Rousseau criticized Macron’s initiative as “cynical”. Rousseau expressed his refusal to participate in a process that does not foster genuine dialogue under favorable circumstances.
In response to the widespread boycott, French President Emmanuel Macron made the decision to cancel the entire event. His office clarified that instead of the planned debate, he will now directly engage with farmers’ unions before officially inaugurating the fair on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal made a commitment to elevate agriculture “to the status of a fundamental national interest.” As part of this commitment, he outlined a new agriculture bill aimed at addressing farmers’ grievances.
According to a police source, the farmers’ movement is proving challenging to manage in certain regions of the country. This observation was reported by AFP.
On Friday morning, approximately 30 tractors made their way into central Paris, heading towards Les Invalides, an esplanade located near the French parliament. However, in accordance with authorities’ requests, they began to depart in the afternoon.
Later, a second convoy arrived in Paris and established a camp near the agriculture fair site in the southwestern part of the capital.
The FNSEA recognized that this year’s fair—an essential annual gathering for farmers, the public, and politicians—would be “eminently political.” However, they expressed hope that it would also serve as a “time of celebration.”
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