It’s an anger that’s growing. Multiplication of standards, ruthless extra-European competition, difficulties in generating decent income to live on… Faced with too many constraints, farmers are multiplying actions to express their fed up.
Several road blockages are taking place, particularly in the south of France, where camps have been set up on major routes in the regions. Thus, the A7, which links Lyon to Marseille, the A64 which links Toulouse to Bayonne or the A62 at Agen, are occupied by farmers.
“The cry of a silent France”
“The political debate today is that French agriculture is entering a critical decade. We must understand the need to protect our agriculture from unfair international competition and to allow our farmers to be competitive and to live from their work. Otherwise, all sovereignty is threatened,” explains Jordan Bardella on the set of La Grande interview Europe 1-CNews.
While agricultural unions are considering intensifying their actions and the government is promising measures from next week, the MEP calls for the anger of those who feed the French to be heard. “What is common between these peasant mobilizations, the yellow vests yesterday, the red caps the day before yesterday, is each time the cry of France which does not want to die. It is the cry of a silent France, a France of work which is asphyxiated by standards, taxes, which can no longer make a living from its work and which, precisely, does not want to be erased”, he continues.
“A major social plan that does not say its name”
“I can tell you that having spoken with many farmers for several days, and even in reality, since I have been an MEP for five years, each time farmers are fighting not only for the survival of their profession and their farms, but also for the survival of rural areas, agriculture”, adds the president of the National Rally.
Before emphasizing the importance of agriculture “in shaping the landscapes” of France, regretting however “a major social plan which does not speak its name”. “Every time a farmer leaves, a part of our identity disappears,” said Jordan Bardella. Since 1970, France has lost almost half of its farmers.