Anger of farmers: the FNSEA raises the threat of a resumption of blockages

The government had announced a series of emergency measures supposed to be implemented before the opening of the Agricultural Show on February 24. France Bleu Armorique – Éric Bouvet

The FNSEA left looming this Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the threat of a resumption of blockades of farmers in France a few hours before a meeting with the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, to whom it criticizes to delay transforming into action the promises made to appease peasant anger.

The government announced at the end of January and beginning of February a series of emergency measures supposed to be implemented by the opening of the Salon de l' 39;agriculture on February 24 in order to put an end to the protest movement of farmers who blocked several highways across the country for days, particularly around Paris.

In the absence of progress, blockages will resume "very likely"

"We are not in the right rhythm", declared Arnaud Rousseau, president of the FNSEA, the leading French agricultural union, on TF1. "The point of this meeting with the Prime Minister is to take stock since we are halfway there after the announcement of the emergency measures and the Agricultural Show. (…) During these 10 days, I did not receive any feedback (from the government), which particularly alerted me."

"If within 10 days, we should not have the substantive work carried out and this software change as we announced, obviously we are ready to go back into action", he added, warning that farmers would resume "very probably" blockages in the absence of progress on their demands.

Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, said on Franceinfo that he understood "an impatience" farmers while inviting them not to "confuse speed with precipitation".