Mayalène Trémolet, edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Luc Auffret / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP
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7:52 p.m., February 24, 2024
Pushes, fights, insults… The inauguration of the 60th edition of the Salon de l’Agriculture will go down in the annals of this unmissable event for its chaotic aspect, on the occasion of the arrival of Emmanuel Macron in full anger farmers. Despite the whistles and boos, the president tried to establish a dialogue with members of the profession, for a mini-debate which ultimately turned into a fiasco. Europe 1 retraces this special day.
“You are going to put a plaster on an open fracture”
After the cancellation of his big debate, Emmanuel Macron, forced to deal with hundreds of angry farmers, proposed a new meeting at the end of the morning with the unions who wanted it. An impromptu informal meeting. Standing in his shirt, the head of state listens to dozens of testimonies from angry farmers on suicide, Ukraine, organic farming or income problems.
“I’ve been working 100 hours a week for three years, and I don’t spend a single euro. It’s my wife who makes me live,” says the first. “We’re talking about animal welfare, what kind of welfare do we in agriculture have?” asks a second. “As soon as I need a little money, I sell 5-10 cows. We have no vision, there is nothing in the long term. You are going to spend, excuse me for to say it, a plaster on an open fracture”, criticizes a third.
Farmers’ cries and clashes
The president responds to these testimonies, and promises new measures. “We are also going to collectively stop saying that agriculture is ruined because otherwise, there is no point in looking for young people!” exclaims Emmanuel Macron during this debate lasting more than an hour and half, which fails to calm the spirits.
Throughout the afternoon, the Head of State wanders among the animals, in the corridor of a hall protected on all sides by CRS and closed to the public. His visit is mainly punctuated by the cries of farmers, some clashes and very reinforced police protection. A chaos which could benefit the president of the National Rally and head of the list in the European elections, Jordan Bardella, expected at the show this Sunday morning.