Farmers’ protest in France is only increasing: ‘If necessary, we will stay here day and night’ | Abroad

The A13, the highway from Normandy to Paris, is full of tractors. French farmers have set up camp in both directions. No one can get through. The police have cordoned off entrances and exits. Further on, traffic jams stretching for miles are visible.

“We have our backs against the wall, we have nowhere to go. So that’s why we can only go to the streets,” says Julien, a farmer from the Paris area. “The government announced support measures last week, but that is almost not enough. We especially want the strict French rules to be relaxed, for example regarding pesticides. France is much stricter than other European countries. That is unfair competition.”

The French farmers have been taking action for a week and a half. It started with a simple roadblock near southern Toulouse. But then it spread quickly. Other highways were also blocked, fires were set here and there and sludge trucks were unloaded in front of many government buildings.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal laid out a whole series of measures to respond to the grievances. Income support was provided and some standards and rules for farmers were relaxed and accelerated. The tax increase on red diesel was cancelled. President Macron would lobby in Brussels to relax European environmental requirements.

For a small proportion of farmers that was sufficient. But the two major farmers’ unions felt the measures did not go far enough. They decided to close the main access roads to Paris indefinitely from Monday.

The national agricultural association FNSEA is represented on the A13, about 40 kilometers west of Paris. “Those measures by Prime Minister Attal: a joke,” says Amandine, farmer and regional director of the FNSEA. “It feels like they don’t take us seriously. We want more income support and fewer rules. Fewer French and fewer European rules. This enormous bureaucracy is not feasible for us farmers.”

A poll conducted last week showed that the French overwhelmingly support their farmers. 89 percent of respondents support the farmers’ protests. There is also great support among President Macron’s supporters. Of those surveyed, 83 percent say the president should do more for farmers.

Partly for this reason, the government is taking a cautious approach. The farmers’ blockades are left alone. Prime Minister Attal wants to announce even more support measures on Tuesday.

“I’ll be curious,” says Amandine, while a single angry motorist further along in the traffic jam starts honking. “We will remain here on the A13 as long as we do not get our way.”

She points to a cart further away, which is also in the middle of the road. Hot food and drinks are sold. Next to it are long tables in tents. Amandine: “If necessary, we will stay here day and night.”