At the end of their meeting with Gabriel Attal, the unions noted the continuation of actions while certain farmers say they are ready to go to Paris and “paralyze the capital”, or even the whole country, to make themselves heard.
Faced with the anger of farmers, the executive promised announcements “during the week” on Monday, but the unions, received at Matignon in the evening, also assured: they “will not be satisfied[ont] no measures” and, until further notice, “the actions continue”. What gives reason to fear a paralysis of the country in the coming days? Earlier on January 22, Jérôme Bayle, figure of the protest of farmers, had not hidden the intentions of certain demonstrators at the microphone of BFMTV : “We are ready to go to Paris, boycott the Agricultural Show and paralyze the capital with our tractors.”
Denouncing a State which “complicates everything: complicates administration, complicates installation, complicates all aid files” and “does not defend French agriculture”, Jérôme Bayle then made “a solemn appeal to all farmers French”: “If we want to stop the agricultural massacre, […] everyone needs to get on the roads. Don’t block people, slow down and show the state […] that we will be firm and determined, and that the rules of the game will change.” Before promising: “We will continue the fight, and this fight we will continue throughout France, but with dignity. I announce to you that by Wednesday, France will be paralyzed.”
At the same time, while he was questioned this Monday about the possibility of an evacuation of farmers on the A64, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, assured that at this stage “there are no plans to evacuation by law enforcement.” And to specify: “In any case, these are the instructions that I gave to the prefects and to the general director of the gendarmerie, since there is no damage on this site.” Gérald Darmanin, in passing, wanted to show his support for farmers “who are going through a difficult time in their professional lives”, while encouraging them to “respect the common good”, which they would do well for the moment , he stressed.