Anger of the peasant world, displacement of Macron… the Agricultural Show opens its doors in an electric climate

La colère des agriculteurs s’est fait entendre, vendredi, notamment porte de Versailles. MAXPPP – GUILLAUME BONNAUD

Emmanuel Macron has canceled his big debate, but is expected “firmly” this Saturday by the peasant world, still under tension.

The agricultural unions wanted the Agricultural Show not to be "like the others". The promise has already been kept.

The great annual meeting of the peasant world will open this Saturday in an electric climate, after a day of confusion around the program of the Head of State's trip.< /p>

Emmanuel Macron finally canceled the major debate planned on Friday to try to appease the anger of the agricultural world, in the face of strong opposition from the main unions in the sector.

The snub inflicted on the President

"They had wanted a “debate” open. They are now asking for its cancellation. Of which act", bitterly commented the President of the Republic on the social network X.

Despite this snub, Emmanuel Macron intends to meet this Saturday morning "all the agricultural unions before the official opening of the show" and go "in contact with all those who want to exchange as I do every year", he underlined.

"Cynical" says the FNSEA

The FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers’ Unions) will respond to his invitation. The first French agricultural union, on the other hand, refused to participate in the big debate, an initiative by the Head of State described as "cynical"  by Arnaud Rousseau, president of the union, while the "tension is great".

For a time announced then denied by the Élysée, the presence of the Earth Uprisings had ignited the powder on Thursday, with Arnaud Rousseau denouncing a "provocation unacceptable".

New actions in Occitanie

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, himself tried, in vain, to dissolve this environmentalist collective last year after violence between the police and demonstrators protesting against a mega-basin project in Sainte-Soline (Deux-Sèvres).

But the dissolution decree was canceled by the Council of State last November. Emmanuel Macron initially planned to debate for several hours at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center with farmers, distributors, industrialists and environmental defense organizations.

In recent weeks, the government has also increased the number of announcements of support measures for the agricultural world which is demonstrating, in France as in Europe, for higher incomes and better working conditions.

A new gesture for farmers

The European Commissioner à Agriculture proposes to amend Community legislation on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in order to put an end to the compulsory nature of four of the conditions imposed for b& Benefit from aid, particularly for fallowing. In an interview à to appear on Saturday in the regional dailies of the Ebra group, Janusz Wojciechowski, who will go this Sunday to the Agricultural Show & Paris, says it understands "perfectly the criticisms of farmers", à against European rules.

Partly satisfied, the farmers lifted the blockades on the main roads in France at the beginning of February, but they continued to make their demands heard on Friday. In Le Mans (Sarthe), a wall was erected in front of the prefecture.

The gate of the sub-prefecture of Castelsarrasin suffered the same fate in Tarn-et-Garonne. Demonstrations were recorded in Occitania, in particular in front of the Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea of ​​Nîmes, where slurry was dumped.

"Wait firmly for Emmanuel Macron"

Or even on the A75, in Clermont-l’Hérault, scene of a snail operation. Around fifty farmers on tractors chose the same method of operation on the Paris ring road, while others were already demonstrating at Porte de Versailles on the eve of the opening of the show.

Actions are also planned during the President of the Republic's visit to the show. "We are here to discuss, exchange with Parisians and above all wait to hear from firm footing Emmanuel Macron who played in the provocation. Today, we are calm but we are really waiting for concrete answers, explained, Luc Smessaert, vice-president of the FNSEA, Friday, on BFMTV.

By warning that the head of state was going to receive "a muscular welcome". Security measures have been increased.