French farmers across the country have intensified their protests and are now moving on Paris, aiming to block major highways and blockade the capital in their demand for better working conditions, reported several news outlets.
Farmers from the FNSEA and the Young Farmers (JA) of the Greater Paris Basin announced the beginning of a “siege of the capital” on Monday, representing the majority of the profession at the national level.
“Starting Monday, January 29th at 2 P.M., farmers from Aisne, Aube, Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Ile-de-France, Marne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Seine-et-Marne, Seine-Maritime, and Somme, members of the FNSEA and Young Farmers of the Greater Paris Basin, will initiate a siege of the capital for an indefinite duration. All major roads leading to the capital will be occupied by farmers,” said the two unions in a joint statement.
The protests stem from grievances over insufficient income, excessive red tape, and environmental policies that put them at a disadvantage compared to neighboring countries with more lax regulations.
Farming Minister Marc Fesneau announced that President Emmanuel Macron would advocate for more pro-farming policies at a European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels. Despite the government dropping plans to gradually reduce state subsidies on agricultural diesel and promising to ease environmental regulations, farmers’ organizations deemed these measures insufficient and vowed to escalate their pressure tactics.
Farmers have utilized tractors and trucks to block roads and disrupt traffic across the country. The head of France’s largest farming organization emphasized their intent to block major highways leading out of Paris to ensure their message reaches the capital.
The government has deployed 15,000 police and paramilitary gendarmes to manage the situation and prevent interference in sensitive locations such as government buildings, airports, and the international wholesale food market.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin directed the forces to demonstrate moderation but cautioned the farmers not to disrupt the aforementioned locales.
“We don’t intend to allow government buildings, or tax collection buildings, or grocery stores to be damaged or trucks transporting foreign produce to be stopped. Obviously, that is unacceptable,” he said.
Darmanin indicated that demonstrations would not be permitted to interfere with operations at the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris, nor at the Rungis International Wholesale Food Market, which is located south of the city and where armored police cars were stationed on Monday.
Police and gendarmes were also under orders to prevent any incursion into Paris itself, added Darmanin.
In an attempt to quell the revolt rising from the countryside, where many struggle to make a living from their profession, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal unveiled emergency measures in Occitanie, the cradle of the protest.
He acceded to some of the protesters’ most pressing demands, including the abandonment of the diesel tax increase, to increased compensation for farmers affected by the bovine disease MHE, and to heavy sanctions against three agri-food industry players not complying with EGalim laws on prices.
The measures “…are expected to be extended to other issues,” promised Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau on Saturday. He mentioned “measures” that he will announce “next week on viticulture,” as well as on “cash flow” and on mold currently affecting agricultural yields.