The large-scale farmer protests taking place across Europe are seeing one of their most dramatic chapters in France, where tractors and cars are set to block all highways around Paris, and security forces are on alert.
In a very typical move, President Emmanuel Macron and his government “caved in” to the demands of some farmers, but this time agricultural workers appear willing to go the extra mile in their protest against low product prices, high fixed costs, increasing red tape and crippling “green” regulations that expose them to exports from foreign countries.
Reuters reported:
“Farmers in France, the European Union's largest agricultural producer, have complained of unfair competition from rivals in less regulated countries. Over the past week, they have set up roadblocks on highways to highlight their issue. They have also damaged property, including government offices Local.
Some farmer unions called on protesters to set up roadblocks around the capital on Monday and target the Rungis food market near Paris.
“Our goal is to encircle Paris,” farmer Daniel Foucheux told BFM television, as he prepared to travel to the capital in a convoy of farmer vehicles and tractors.
French farmers pour fertilizer on the doors of the Administrative Building of the Agen Prefecture. pic.twitter.com/y7rR2C3QdN
– Paul Serran (@paul_serran) January 28, 2024
Paris police have strengthened security measures around the Rungis market and Paris Roissy Airport, including the use of armored vehicles.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said these measures were aimed at ensuring that no tractors reached Paris, but he nonetheless warned of unrest on Monday in the Ile-de-France region, which covers Paris and the surrounding suburbs. He added that about 15,000 police will be used as part of the security operation.
All this is happening against the backdrop of the upcoming European elections next June. Right-wing parties are expected to make significant gains, and have received a lot of support from farmers.
Heavy police presence, including armored cars, to prevent any tractors from entering Paris. pic.twitter.com/5zeewF1cKf
– Paul Serran (@paul_serran) January 28, 2024
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen – President Emmanuel Macron's closest rival in the 2017 and 2022 elections – visited some demonstrators in northern France. “We have to take our agriculture out of these free trade agreements,” she said.
Macron's government is a never-ending series of crises and mass protests, from the yellow vests to authoritarian pension reform to migrant riots and Islamist anger over Gaza – so they decided to cave in and drop plans to cut state subsidies for agricultural diesel.
Farmers responded too little, too late, and are not inclined to stop now. Therefore, French Interior Minister Darmanin ordered the deployment of large numbers of security forces around Paris.
– Paul Serran (@paul_serran) January 28, 2024
ABC News reported:
Darmanin said he ordered security forces to “prevent any siege” of the Rungis International Market – which supplies the capital and the surrounding region with much of its fresh needs. Food – and Paris airports, as well as preventing any convoy of farmers from entering the capital and any other large city. He said that the helicopters would monitor the tractor convoys.
Farmers in the UCR in the Lot and Garonne region, where the protests broke out, said they planned to use their tractors on Monday to head toward the Rungis International Market.
The two largest farmers' unions in France said in a statement that their members stationed in the areas surrounding the Paris region will seek to close all main roads leading to the capital, with the aim of putting the city “under siege”, starting Monday afternoon.
Read more:
Peter Sweden: The matter is spreading – a massive farmer protest in Germany (video)
