The executive is trying to clear the land in the face of agricultural anger. A debate followed by a vote on the free trade treaty between the EU and Mercosur countries, which France rejects as it stands, will be held in the National Assembly on November 26, announced this Tuesday 19 November the President of the Lower House, Yaël Braun-Pivet.
“I hear the anger, the tensions, the incomprehension of farmers on the EU-Mercosur draft agreement. France is firmly opposed to it,” Prime Minister Michel Barnier recalled on X, announcing his intention to make a declaration to the National Assembly followed by a debate on this commercial treaty. Michel Barnier had previously consulted the presidents of the groups which support his government, meeting as every week in Matignon on Tuesday morning.
Under article 50-1 of the Constitution, the government may, on its own initiative or at the request of a parliamentary group, make a declaration on a specific subject giving rise to a debate, or even a vote, without incur liability. The conference of presidents of the Assembly recorded the principle of this debate on Tuesday morning, adding it to the agenda for December 10. But the debate was finally brought forward to November 26, Yaël Braun-Pivet announced during Questions to the Government.
The FNSEA-JA alliance welcomes “a first victory”
The two agricultural unions FNSEA and Jeunes Agriculteurs, engaged in a national mobilization since Monday, hailed this Tuesday as “a first victory”. In a joint press release, without further details on the continuation of the actions, they indicate that “the fight continues”.
In the Assembly, the president of the LFI group, Mathilde Panot, welcomed the government’s decision on Tuesday morning, recalling that LFI had wanted to debate Mercosur in its “niche” on November 28, but that the government had deemed its decision inadmissible at the beginning of November. motion for a resolution inviting it to reject this treaty. The RN attempted a similar approach for its own niche on October 31, without further success. The member for Val-de-Marne also sent a letter last week to the Prime Minister solemnly requesting the organization of a debate under article 50-1. LR deputy Julien Dive also challenged the executive during the QAG session. “We, the 47 deputies of the Republican right, have requested the government, in the name of article 50-1 of the Constitution, for a debate followed by a vote in the French Parliament on this treaty. Are you ready to respect this vote and to engage in a real standoff with the European Commission to defend our food sovereignty?” he asked the Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard.
“A standoff” within the EU
This debate “will be fruitful and believe me that we will be very, very mobilized on this issue”, replied Annie Genevard, believing that the treaty with Mercosur “is a closure of the future” for farmers. The government will also propose a debate followed by a vote in the Senate, “probably the day after the Assembly”, a ministerial source told AFP.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon promised Tuesday on TF1 that France would continue “to hold a standoff for as long as necessary” with the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen against this treaty, negotiated for decades between the EU and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay).
“Contrary to what many think, France is not isolated and many are joining us,” Emmanuel Macron said the day before from Rio. He cited the “Poles, Austrians, Italians and several others in Europe.” Farmers continue their mobilization throughout France on Tuesday, in particular to express their opposition to the EU signing of this agreement. The Rural Coordination is increasing the pressure, threatening to take more blocking actions.