President Emmanuel Macron on the steps of the Elysée, February 21, 2024 in Paris (AFP/Ludovic MARIN)
Put under pressure by the FNSEA, whose president Arnaud Rousseau refused to debate with Macron whether the Earth Uprisings were invited, the Elysée ultimately preferred not to invite to its big debate the collective whose government wanted the dissolution ago some months.
Wanted by the presidency on the model of the major discussions organized during the “yellow vest” crisis, the exchange between Emmanuel Macron and the agricultural world was weighed down even before its opening, Saturday, at the Salon de l’Agriculture.
“The invitation by the PR [président de la République] to the #SIA of a small group whose dissolution was requested by its own government is an unacceptable provocation for farmers. I agreed to participate in a debate. Under these conditions, I refuse to take part in what will only be a charade,” Arnaud Rousseau, the president of the first agricultural union, posted on X on Thursday evening.
The invitation of the collective, described as “eco-terrorist” by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, also provoked the anger of the president of the Young Farmers Arnaud Gaillot. “There is no debate possible with these violent people,” he posted on X, also refusing to participate.
The opposition immediately jumped into the breach. “Definitely, Macron embodies nothing other than confusion, contempt and disorder,” reacted far-right leader Marine Le Pen. The president of the Republicans Eric Ciotti denounced him as “+at the same time+ Macronist (…) unbearable”.
After a few moments of hesitation, the Elysée finally decided not to invite the Earth Uprisings, “to guarantee the serenity of the debates”.
This debate should make it possible to “outline the future” of the sector, according to the Elysée. “All stakeholders will be able to give their point of view, make proposals, compare ideas,” promised the presidency.
It must last at least two hours and is supposed to bring together the main leaders of agricultural unions (FNSEA, Young Farmers, Rural Coordination, Peasant Confederation, etc.), but also representatives of large retailers and manufacturers.
Several leaders of environmental associations are also invited, such as the Climate Action and Future Generations Network.
The presidency, which wants “open, frank and transparent” exchanges, “without filter”, “in a republican state of mind” was nevertheless forced to bend in the face of pressure from agricultural unions by disinviting the Earth Uprisings .
– “Nothing concrete” –
The leaders of the two majority agricultural unions, the FNSEA and the Young Farmers (JA), Arnaud Rousseau (d) and Arnaud Gaillot (g), during a press conference, February 13, 2024 in Paris (AFP/Archives/GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT)
The delays surrounding this debate came as farmers, angry for several weeks, maintained pressure on the government. Around a hundred of them demonstrated Thursday in Arras at the call of the Rural Coordination to demand “acts”.
“I didn’t think I would go back to the street again, I would prefer to be on my farm working”, but “announcements have been made and there is still nothing concrete”, lamented for example Adrien Spriet, who came to park his tractor in front of the prefecture where a delegation was received in the afternoon.
In Oise, farmers marched in Beauvais on 80 tractors to the prefecture. Snail operations also took place on the roads of this department, at the initiative of 400 farmers, according to the FDSEA.
“We are waiting for the intervention of the president (Emmanuel Macron) because what Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced does not satisfy us,” explained Linda Monnier, director of the FDSEA of Oise.
Mr. Attal will travel to Charente-Maritime on Friday where he will visit the Royan market and then meet representatives of farmers.
– Spanish farmers –
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister summarized the dozens of commitments and projects already launched to respond to the anger of the agricultural world.
Farmers’ demonstration in Arras, February 22, 2021 in Pas-de-Calais (AFP/Denis CHARLET)
New measures have been announced on visas for foreign seasonal workers, pesticides, with the abandonment of a controversial indicator, and even remuneration. These declarations did not prevent several protest actions throughout France.
On Thursday, around twenty actions took place in the territory, a third of which were initiated since Wednesday, according to a police source (blockades of platforms, logistics bases, motorway interchanges, etc.). Prefectures and sub-prefectures were also targeted.
According to a police source, Spanish farmers are considering blockades at the border with France next week, hoping to be joined by French farmers.
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© 2024 AFP
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