The main unions are meeting the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, this Wednesday February 13 in the afternoon before Emmanuel Macron, starting tomorrow. Ten days after the lifting of the farmers’ blockades and despite several announcements from the government, agricultural organizations are still threatening to resume actions two weeks before the Agricultural Show.
3 mins
The tone has not really changed among farmers. Despite 400 million euros in emergency aid promised by the government and these discussions planned at the highest level of the State, the distrust is very clear. The unions show their determination to obtain “ change on farms » to use the words of the boss of the FNSEA this morning on TF1.
Arnaud Rousseau takes the example of “ big breeding plan » promised by Gabriel Attal and the terms of which are not yet known. Breeders faced with bovine diseases or unfair competition from Ukraine are among the farmers to suffer the most from a drop in living standards.
Read alsoFrance: faced with the revolt, the government postpones its agricultural reform
There is also the sensitive issue of pesticides: many farmers are asking to relax the plan to reduce the use of phytosanitary products, angering environmental NGOs in the process. Eight of them refused to participate in a meeting dedicated to the subject this Monday, February 12 at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Agricultural Show in sight
Since the start of the protest movement at the end of January, the agricultural world has had massive support from the French. The blockages made it possible to obtain first concessions from the executive. It’s about striking while the iron is hot before the Agricultural Show, which will be held in Paris in eleven days. An important means of pressure in the hands of farmers. The show is a key meeting place with political leaders, the President of the Republic goes there in particular.
The FNSEA also threatens, if it does not succeed, to organize a welcoming committee for Emmanuel Macron. The Head of State will also receive union officials from tomorrow, including the FNSEA expected next week at the Élysée.
If the Élysée is dispassionate about these first official meetings since the start of the crisis, explaining that it is usual on the eve of the Agricultural Show, it is difficult to imagine simple courtesy visits. Emmanuel Macron has already seen farmers. Last week, without announcements or cameras, he went to Doubs, in eastern France, to visit farms and take the temperature in the field. A way of showing that he takes the agricultural issue very seriously.
Election year and populist victories announced
This movement is not only French, it crosses many European countries: Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain… Europe, often targeted by demonstrators, is letting go again this morning. The commission suspends the obligation to leave part of the land fallow for 2024. All this with less than 6 months of European elections promised to a surge in the extremes…
Obviously, the populists are not letting the opportunity pass. This morning, National Rally (RN) deputies, Marine Le Pen’s party, launched a parliamentary commission of inquiry into food sovereignty. The various hearings of stakeholders from the agricultural world must extend over six months. Enough to add pressure on the executive and garner votes in the peasant world.
Read alsoFrance: majority agricultural unions call for suspension of blockades