Gabriel Attal was well received at the Agricultural Show this Tuesday, February 27 and exchanged with the unions on the measures promised by Emmanuel Macron, while the Confédération paysanne led an action at the Lactalis stand to denounce unremunerative prices.
1:42 p.m. – Bruno Le Maire announces new financial aid for farmers
Bruno Le Maire detailed new aid to support farmers’ cash flow this Tuesday noon, the day after a meeting with bank representatives. He notably mentioned two instruments made available to farmers in difficulty: the first will allow “a one-year deferral of payment of their bank debt then a rescheduling of this bank debt for up to 36 months” and the second will be a loan “at a preferential rate of between 0 and 2.5% depending on the situation of the farms”. The Minister of the Economy added that the guaranteed loan to farmers of 2 billion euros will be available on May 1, and no longer in July. This aid will be intended for operators “who need to adapt, buy equipment, invest, go green”.
1:18 p.m. – Action by the Farmers’ Confederation underway at the Lactalis stand
The Confederation has decided to carry out a quick action at the Lactalis stand, at the Agricultural Show, this Tuesday, February 27. At midday the union stationed itself in front of the location reserved for the milk giant despite the intervention of the security services to prevent them. The unionists even managed to drive a cow in front of the stand. At the head of the action, spokesperson Laurence Marandola recalled that the company’s headquarters had been targeted by an action last Wednesday to demand a fair and remunerative price for breeders.
12:29 – Photo of the Prime Minister with Oreillette, the cow muse of the Salon
In the morning, the Prime Minister took a photo with one of the stars of the Agricultural Show: the cow featured in the 60th edition of the event, Oreillette. A photo showing the peaceful climate between the government and farmers after last weekend’s clashes.
11:52 – Political recoveries denounced by the Peasant Confederation
Since it broke out, the agricultural crisis has been “used for political purposes” according to the general secretary of the Confédération paysanne, Véronique Marchesseau, invited on the set of BFMTV. And the trade unionist regrets that the political ambitions of each camp prevail over the management of the crisis and the policies to try to find solutions: “It’s quite dramatic that politics works like that today. Normally, people who engage in politics must work for the general interest of fellow citizens and not make strategies […] with the objective of being able to be elected in the short term” estimated Véronique Marchesseau targeting the presidential majority as well as the National Rally or the left-wing forces.
10:58 – Attal wants to “make tailor-made products” to meet the needs of farmers
Gabriel Attal mingles with the crowd at the Agricultural Show and continues to interact with the unions. “I am aware that there are farmers in great suffering, in distress and in great difficulty” he declared in front of representatives of the Rural Coordination, including co-president Karine Duc, saying he wanted to “do something tailor-made” to meet the needs of farmers on a case-by-case basis. He promised that the results of the departmental census announced by the head of state on Saturday will arrive “fairly quickly”.
“We have to be able to do something tailor-made”: Gabriel Attal responds to Karine Duc (Rural Coordination) on farmers’ cash flow problems pic.twitter.com/Z8DzCdY4xQ
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) February 27, 2024
10:34 – Floor prices, a “brake on competitiveness”?
If the establishment of floor prices is welcomed by the unions, it does not delight all those involved in mass distribution. The boss of the Mousquetaires/Intermarché Thierry Cotillard; guest of France Inter this Tuesday morning, considers for its part that these prices supposed to better remunerate farmers will be a “brake in European competitiveness” and for the export of products. Not particularly satisfied with Emmanuel Macron’s announcement, Thierry Cotillard also responded to the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau who, according to him, made “very inappropriate” comments by accusing large-scale distribution of “lack[r] of patriotism”. The minister declared last week about these stores: “either they are French, or they are stateless multinationals. But, finally, they have responsibilities to take before us.”
10:03 – Gabriel Attal in contact with farmers
Gabriel Attal stands out at the Agricultural Show among breeders and farmers. He assured one of them only a few minutes after his arrival that “the country is behind [eux]”. The Prime Minister also posted a video of himself on social networks.
09:45 – The Peasant Confederation is satisfied but “vigilant” on floor prices
The tone is also rather satisfied on the side of the Peasant Confederation, especially after Emmanuel Macron’s announcements on the establishment of floor prices and that of an emergency cash flow plan for farmers in order to help the most vulnerable farms. more in difficulty. Véronique Marchesseau, general secretary of the union, acknowledges BFMTV that “short-term responses are necessary”, but she adds that “we must at the same time carry out structural work on the profitability of our farms”. The trade unionist is therefore satisfied with the floor prices, but says she remains “vigilant” about the implementation of the measure.
09:26 – The unions have “confidence” in “everything that is already on the table”
The unions were able to speak with the Prime Minister at the Agricultural Show this Tuesday morning and the discussions visibly took place calmly, unlike last Saturday. “It was an interesting working meeting because each of the unions was able to express themselves, each was able to say what was still missing to move agriculture forward in the right direction,” said Véronique Le Floch, president of the Rural coordination, on BFMTV after his meeting with Gabriel Attal. The Rural Coordination also “trusts [au gouvernement] on everything that is already on the table” according to its president.
08:46 – A debate between François Ruffin and farmers at the Salon
The rebellious deputy for the Somme, François Ruffin, plans to go to the Agricultural Show this Tuesday, February 27. The politician assures, in the name of his group, that he has a “project for French agriculture: ensuring stability, protection and horizons for farmers, in the face of globalization, in the face of the giants of agro-industry” on debate with farmers and their unions from the Salon from 2 p.m.
We have a project for French agriculture: to ensure stability, protection and horizons for farmers, in the face of globalization, in the face of the giants of agro-industry.
I will be at the Agricultural Show tomorrow from 2 p.m. to discuss it with farmers and their…
— François Ruffin (@Francois_Ruffin) February 26, 2024
08:10 – Details on floor prices and tackle against LFI
Gabriel Attal’s visit is also an opportunity to provide after-sales service for the announcements made by Emmanuel Macron yesterday, in particular that concerning the establishment of a floor price. “We will ensure that production cost indicators, which exist in the Egalim law, which allow, sector by sector, to look at the cost of production in each sector can be the basis for constructing the price” a explained the head of government on RTL. The Prime Minister was careful to distinguish “the form of floor price that the President spoke about” from the proposal formulated by La France insoumise: “It has nothing to do with the proposal of France insoumise, which wants to transform our farmers in civil servants and nationalize mass distribution. And the politician added with regard to the left party: “Between the USSR and the Far West there is a balance.”
08:03 – Attal accuses the RN of having exploited “certain union forces”
Gabriel Attal also criticized the forces of the National Rally for having exploited “certain union forces” during the opening of the Agricultural Show which was disrupted by clashes. “I saw unease, distress among the farmers. But what we saw on Saturday was not that, it was some who used anger to sow chaos, the RN using certain union forces. Among those who tried to shake up were activists, not just farmers,” assured the Prime Minister.
07:55 – Le Pen and Bardella described as “stowaways” in the agricultural crisis
Gabriel Attal tackled the representatives of the National Rally from the Agricultural Show and at the microphone of RTL by describing Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella as “stowaways in this agricultural crisis”. The Prime Minister notably pointed out the political recovery and the party’s attempt to take advantage of the crisis with a view to the European elections and denounced the absence of agricultural policies proposed by the party: “What is [Marine Le Pen] has done for 20 years in the European Parliament?”
07:50 – Second visit of Gabriel Attal to the Agricultural Show
The Prime Minister arrived at the Agricultural Show this Tuesday, February 27. On site since 7 hours, Gabriel Attal must spend several hours with breeders and exhibitors. He began his visit by milking the cows before appearing on the RTL morning show. He must then go see Oreillette, the cow muse of the Show, then must go to the different pavilions of the exhibition center to wander through the aisles of stands.