Alexandre Chauveau / Photo credits: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
This year, and even more than in previous years, the Agricultural Show is eagerly awaited by the always angry farmers. An event which will be the first political round to prepare for the European elections next June.
The Agricultural Show opens its doors on Saturday at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. The Head of State is expected there from the opening, before the arrival of most political leaders, and this, in the midst of the farmers’ protest movement. Less than four months before the European elections, the show promises to be the first round of the campaign.
Emmanuel Macron is banking on the big debate
All political parties are aware of this, the executive first of all, on the front line facing the discontent of farmers. Emmanuel Macron is playing big on Saturday: he is banking on the big debate and concrete announcements to try to defuse the crisis, which, if it were to last, could seriously harm the candidate of the presidential party.
The agricultural crisis, an angle of attack for the RN
On Sunday, it will be Jordan Bardella’s turn to walk the aisles of the Porte de Versailles. Last year, the president of the National Rally (RN) was very warmly welcomed by farmers. This weekend he intends to accentuate the contrast with a potentially heckled Emmanuel Macron the day before. At the RN, the agricultural crisis is seen as one of the symptoms of the European policy promoted by the Head of State and therefore a ready-made angle of attack for the coming campaign.
But the argument is also shared among Les Républicains. François-Xavier Bellamy will be there on Monday, alongside Céline Imart, number two on his list and a professional farmer. At the Porte de Versailles, the Republican recruit will be in his element. The right makes it a major argument to appear credible in the face of a crisis which could therefore well mark the European campaign.