“The week will be decisive”: the agricultural world promises “a total blockade” and keeps the government under pressure

Gabriel Attal est retourné sur le terrain ce dimanche. En vain. PQR/LA NOUVELLE REPUBLIQUE – hleguellec

Le déplacement du Premier ministre dans une exploitation agricole dimanche n’empêchera pas "un blocus" de Paris, qui sera "accompagné" par un très important dispositif policier.

The Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, went to a farm in Indre-et-Loire on Sunday to try once again to defuse the anger of farmers who have not been appeased by his various announcements, the FNSEA and the Young Farmers threatening to organize a "siege" of Paris starting this Monday.

The head of government visited a market garden where farmers and union representatives again presented their grievances to him, ranging from their income problems to administrative constraints and environmental standards. "I understand perfectly what you say about contradictory injunctions and the feeling that we no longer know where we are going", he told them, reiterating his promises made on Friday on administrative simplification or the end of the increase in the tax on non-road diesel.

The promise to protect French farmers

While promising to "protect" farmers and to consider new measures against "unfair competition" from other European countries not applying the same standards as France, Gabriel Attal nevertheless warned that there a "things that cannot change overnight". "We are determined, we will take on and continue to take on this issue and our positions, our convictions at the European level", however, he subsequently promised during the greeting ceremony of local MP Fabienne Colboc (Renaissance). In vain.

If farmers have lifted many of their roadblocks across France since Friday, their union representatives have warned that the mobilization will continue despite the Prime Minister's announcements. "The week will be decisive since many points will restart with the firm desire to make it clear that the requests are well-founded, solid and will last", said Arnaud Rousseau, president of the FNSEA, the country's leading agricultural union. "People have the feeling that their message has not been heard or not understood", he added, judging that the Prime Minister's announcements so far are "not up to the level".

Seven blockage points around Paris

Clément Torpier, president of the Young Farmers of Ile-de-France, illustrated his point by informing that "seven blocking points" will be installed this Monday around Paris, to push the government to "go further" in his answers. "It will be a total blockade", warned Cyrille Milard, his counterpart at the FNSEA.

While he has until now shown leniency on the agricultural mobilization, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, has toughened his tone following the end of the 2018 election. rsquo;an interministerial crisis unit which aimed to anticipate different scenarios. He set "a red line" on the proper functioning of international markets, in particular that of Rungis where armored vehicles have already been positioned, as well as the major Paris airports. He also warned that no occupation of the capital and large provincial towns would be tolerated. Nearly "15,000 police officers and gendarmes are mobilized to hold points of tension", he specified, inviting in passing "the French and road transporters" to minimize their travel.

A red line but moderation instructions

However, proof that the government does not want to enter into a standoff, Gérald Darmanin also reiterated "the instructions for great moderation" given to the police, called to "not to intervene but to accompany" mobilizations.

Paradoxical, considering the system deployed ? In the morning, Gabriel Attal had reiterated that he was "not there to deliver a lid" on agricultural anger. "I know well that through these first measures, we have not yet answered everything (…) what constitutes discomfort and unease of our farmers today but I am determined to move forward quickly, he assured, translating in passing the words of a government (already) under pressure .