Emmanuel Macron in Paris on February 21, 2024 (AFP/Ludovic MARIN)
Emmanuel Macron will participate in a major debate with “all the players in the agricultural world”, farmers, industrialists, mass retailers and NGOs, on Saturday at the Agricultural Show, “to outline the future” of the sector, announced Thursday the Elysée.
“All stakeholders will be able to give their point of view, make proposals, compare ideas”, indicated the presidency while the farmers, angry for several weeks, remain more mobilized than ever as this major meeting approaches. -you annual.
The debate, which will last at least two hours, is intended to be “open, frank and transparent”, “without filter”, “in a republican state of mind”.
It will cover all issues linked to agriculture, income, Europe and transition of the agricultural model in light of major climate issues.
The President of the Republic “really wants speech to be free” and that “all subjects are brought to the table”, underlined the Elysée.
He “will make contact” and is “ready to take the time it takes to discuss all the issues”, “hands-on”.
The exercise, which is reminiscent of the major debates organized in the midst of the “yellow vest” crisis in 2019, will take place on a “ring”, a large enclosure where the animals are presented, in Hall 1 of the show.
Several hundred people are expected, including representatives of the main agricultural unions (FNSEA, Young Farmers, Rural Coordination, Peasant Confederation, etc.), large retailers (Lidl, Leclerc, etc.) and manufacturers such as the food processor Bigard meat.
Leaders of environmental associations are also invited, added the Elysée, citing Réseau Action Climat, Générations futures and even the Uprisings of the Earth, a collective that the executive wanted to dissolve before the decision was canceled by the Council of State.
“The president will have the opportunity to re-set a course for French agriculture by 2030 at the conclusion of this debate,” said a presidential advisor.
Before the “big debate”, Emmanuel Macron will, as every year, kick off this major popular meeting with the agricultural world, by cutting the ribbon, will visit the cow muse of the show, Oreillette this year, and will perform a first stroll through the aisles.
The debate will follow, then the continuation of the stroll, interspersed with exchanges with the different sectors (poultry, pork, cereals, spirits, wines, fruits and vegetables) and a final stop around fishing.
The president, who loves taking the time to discuss and taste wines and products, will therefore be present again for a good part of the day, without perhaps going so far as to beat his record of more than 14 hours in 2019.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal summarized on Wednesday the dozens of commitments and projects already launched, and announced measures on visas for foreign seasonal workers, on pesticides and even on remuneration. But he seems to have left the farmers hungry, focused on the upcoming intervention of the head of state.
© 2024 AFP
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