The Rural Coordination, which is demanding a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, announces blockages in Paris on January 5.
After trying, without success, to obtain a meeting with Prime Minister François Bayrou and the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, the Agricultural Coordination union confirmed the organization of blockades in Paris on January 5.
“These are occasional blockages which are planned,” said Véronique Le Floch, president of the Agricultural Coordination, during her intervention on RTL this Friday, January 3 in the morning. Details concerning the exact locations of these actions and their practical arrangements remain to be clarified.
“We don’t have an answer, we have to go look for it,” explained Véronique Le Floch. The president remains hopeful of a government reaction, particularly after the Council of Ministers scheduled for Friday, January 3. “We hope that he will be convinced (…), if not with his Minister of Agriculture, at least with the other ministers, to give us importance and answer our questions,” said she insisted.
The Agricultural Coordination is calling for concrete measures to allow its members to continue to practice their profession without suffering increased costs. Among the flagship proposals are the establishment of an “energy shield” to protect farmers from increases in energy costs, as well as a review of the calculation of social charges which weigh heavily on farmers.
“We are taken hostage”
“We don’t understand. We are taken hostage by these people who have no consideration for us,” lamented Véronique Le Floch, criticizing the attitude of political leaders. In particular, she accuses the government of signing international agreements to the detriment of the interests of French farmers. “We go to the last row every time,” she added.
This mobilization takes place in a particular context for the agricultural world. It will take place two days before the launch of the election campaign for the chambers of agriculture, scheduled for January 7. This election, which will take place online or by correspondence from January 15 to 31, will redefine the balance of power between agricultural unions and will directly influence the directions of local and national policies in matters of agriculture.