Emmanuel Macron exchanges with farmers at the agricultural show in Paris on February 24, 2024 (POOL/AFP/Archives/Ludovic MARIN)
The Agricultural Show closes its doors on Sunday at the end of a 60th edition marked by the anger of farmers, who remain circumspect in the face of multiple government announcements and proud to have presented their work to hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The majority agricultural union FNSEA had set the tone the day before the opening, on February 23, by organizing a march, ending in a vigil in front of the entrance to the Parc des Expositions in Paris.
Visitors flock to the Paris Agricultural Show on February 25, 2024 (AFP/Archives/GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT)
In the early morning, dozens of demonstrators forced a gate and entered, determined to make themselves heard by the head of state.
In the middle of the aisles of Hall 1, the unmissable pavilion for cows, pigs and sheep, scuffles take place between security – visibly overwhelmed – and activists displaying the distinctive signs of three unions, FNSEA, Young Farmers and Rural Coordination.
The program for Emmanuel Macron’s visit is turned upside down. After a meeting with the official representatives of the unions and sectors, he will finally debate with a few farmers chosen from the ranks of the unions.
The Show opens to the public one hour late, and Hall 1, more than six hours later. “Never seen before” for its organizers.
The usual stroll of the president is maintained, but in stands emptied of their visitors, blocked by CRS cordons, and sometimes to boos.
“We are showing our muscles once again against a people who are suffering and fed up,” storms Moïse Blin, a breeder in Brittany.
– Less excess –
After this tumultuous first day, life at the Show resumes in a good-natured atmosphere but punctuated right to the end with whistles or “rants”.
Visitors flock around its muse, the cow Oreillette, are touched by the hatching of chicks or are amazed by the attributes of an Aubrac bull. They feast on regional specialties, climb into the combine harvester, attend animal competitions.
The Norman cow “Oreillette” at the agricultural show on February 26, 2024 (AFP/Archives/Ludovic MARIN)
The festival gives rise, as always, to certain excesses but far from the excesses observed last year. If wine bars, brewery and cocktail stands start tastings at 11 a.m., mini cups at the edges of the counters, the sale of alcohol is prohibited at 6:45 p.m. and pints of beer, banned on weekends.
A first quantitative assessment will be given on Sunday evening, but the organizers are already “very satisfied with the number of visitors”.
After weeks of mobilization in the streets and government commitments, ranging from hundreds of millions in emergency aid to the promise of a shock of simplification, the Show was an opportunity to present new pledges.
– Egg throw –
Acceding to a strong request from the FNSEA, Emmannuel Macron committed to recognizing agriculture “as a major general interest of the French nation”, responding to Rural Coordination, he mentioned “an emergency cash flow plan” , and at the Peasant Confederation, opened a debate on “floor prices”.
This latest announcement has made the FNSEA jump, which sees the risk of leading to “ceiling prices” and an additional constraint in certain sectors where this does not make sense, such as cereals intended for export.
The president of the RN visits the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris on February 25, 2024 (AFP/GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT)
Expected at the show, the government has multiplied the announcements: plans for breeding and durum wheat, 40 million additional euros for organic agriculture, 100 million more for the fruit and vegetable sector. Decrees have also been published on the naming of meats or professions in shortage.
Ministers, elected officials or candidates, the parade of politicians was constant, against the backdrop of the campaign for the European elections.
Ministers Christophe Béchu (Ecological Transition) and Marc Fesneau (Agriculture) were the target of eggs, while Gabriel Attal strolled quietly; on the far right, Marion Maréchal saw herself doused with beer when the president of the RN Jordan Bardella multiplied the selfies.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (2nd L) discusses at the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris on February 27, 2024 (AFP/Archives/Dimitar DILKOFF)
The President of the Republic placed himself from the start in opposition to the far right, denouncing a link between the Rural Coordination and the RN.
The second agricultural union, which defends its apoliticism, in any case remembered the executive on Friday morning by arriving by surprise with tractors and bales of straw at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe.
Signs that farmers remain in the breach.
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© 2024 AFP
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