There mobilization of farmers does not weaken. And neither does their anger. This Tuesday, January 30, for the second day in a row, they are blocking strategic routes around Paris, determined to show that they can hold out if the “new measures” unveiled during the day by the government disappoint. Especially since a convoy of 200 tractors should join them at the end of the day to “invest” the market of national interest (MIN) in Rungis, surrounded by the gendarmerie.
This convoy, which left Agen on Monday morning, was organized at the call of the Rural Coordination union. Other farmers from Haute-Vienne and Charente should further increase the workforce, according to the union. “The idea is to bring together all of deep France around us,” Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, president of the Lot-et-Garonne Chamber of Agriculture and historic figure in Rural Coordination, told AFP. of 47 (CR47) which launched the movement.
A union takes the initiative to block Paris
Since the beginning of movement, the Rural Coordination union stands out for its punchy actions and clear-cut speeches. Last week, it was on their initiative that farmers dumped slurry (a mixture of animal excrement used as fertilizer in agriculture) on the facade of a supermarket in Agen. After the government’s announcements, deemed “disappointing” according to them, a large fire of tires and waste was lit in front of the prefecture gates, while a tank sprayed its facade with slurry. Other buildings (Departmental Directorate of Territories, Mutualité sociale agricole, banks) were targeted on Wednesday. On Thursday, farmers increased their actions against large-scale distribution before dumping waste in front of Agen station and on the railway tracks in a neighboring town. Until the idea of blocking Paris and the Rungis market emerged this weekend.
Rural Coordination was created in the early 1990s, in reaction to the reform of the common Agricultural Policy (CAP). For two decades, the union has controlled the Chamber of Agriculture of Lot-et-Garonne (four mandates in total), with 60% of the votes in the last elections. Since 2019, Rural Coordination has also administered the Chambers of Agriculture of Vienne and Haute-Vienne (for initial mandates). It is the second union behind the FNSEA.
The CR47 has long been known for its actions, notably a commando operation at a trader, an occupation of the premises of the Mutualité sociale agricole, ransacking of supermarkets and purchasing centers, and even the blockade of Agen. So many actions which often ended up in court. Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, one of the leaders of the movement, claims 18 trials in 30 years. “Let others take an example from us: we are essential in Lot-et-Garonne while everywhere else, they are inaudible and invisible,” declared Serge Bousquet-Cassagne.
Close to the extreme right
The CR47 is also targeted by a judicial investigation opened after a complaint from the national secretary of EELV, Marine Tondelier, whose trip to Lot-et-Garonne last year was strongly disrupted by the union – he had indicated, the day before, that she was “not welcome”. The environmental leader then castigated “an extreme right union”.
Serge Bousquet-Cassagne assumes his proximity “with all the rights” and one of his sons was departmental secretary of the National Front (now National Rally) and several times a candidate for elections with the Lepéniste party label. Thursday in Agen, the RN deputy for Lot-et-Garonne, Hélène Laporte, came to support the mobilized farmers. “You are completely right and we will support you. You can count on us, that’s why I am here today,” said the vice-president of the National Assembly to the leaders of CR47.
Asked about possible connections, Karine Duc had assured the day before that this is “not at all” the case. “We are a trade union organization, we do not play politics […] All those who care about us, if they want to work for agriculture, let them do it,” she said, calling for “not to sensationalize” the subject.