Upon the call of the farmers’ union Coordination Rurale, farmers from various parts of France carried out an action to stop traffic on the entry and exit routes of Paris with approximately 50 tractors.
Traffic notification site Sytadin reported that in the Ile-de-France region, where Paris is located, the traffic blockage due to farmers’ protests reached approximately 40 kilometers.
Speaking to the BFMTV microphone, Maxence Wittman, one of the farmers in the protest, said, “We will not step back no matter what, the government is not afraid of us if we are not in Paris.” she said.
While it is reported that a part of the N124 highway leading to Toulouse, one of the largest cities in France, has been closed to traffic by farmers, protests continue in different parts of the country.
WHAT HAPPENED?
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced yesterday that they had taken some measures to meet the demands of farmers, including relaxing the restrictions on the sale of pesticides and paving the way for French agricultural producers to employ more migrant workers.
Attal stated that they would not “fully implement” the EU’s rules on pesticide use in line with the request of French farmers, and that they would introduce the government’s new agricultural policy at the Paris International Agricultural Fair, which will start on February 24.
Farmers, who did not find these measures sufficient, announced that they would continue their protests until the Paris International Agricultural Fair.
Farmers, who started a “siege of Paris” action with their tractors on January 29, closed the entrance and exit routes to the capital to traffic.
Road closures that lasted for days ended with the government announcing that it would take a support package of more than 400 million euros and new measures for the sector. (AA)
