The government has “heard the call” of farmers and will make announcements “in the coming days”, government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot said on Wednesday, assuring that there was “no question of coming to prevent” road blockages.
The executive is “determined to protect the French agricultural model, so that farmers can make a decent living from their work,” she said at the end of the Council of Ministers.
Starting from the southwest last week, the farmers’ revolt is gaining momentum with numerous road blockages in the country. “Demonstrations organized within a legal framework”, underlined Ms. Thevenot, adding that “there is no question of preventing this expression of demand”.
“The agricultural nation is appealing to us (…) we have heard it,” she assured, promising that “the announcements will arrive in the coming days” because “there is an urgency to respond” to the demands of the sector.
According to Matignon, Gabriel Attal will hold a working meeting with the Ministers of Agriculture Marc Fesneau, the Environment Christophe Béchu and the Economy Bruno le Maire on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. on the answers that can be provided.
Ms. Thevenot mentioned avenues under study on the taxation of non-road diesel and “cash advances” to operating managers.
The Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, “is committed to getting on the ground very quickly,” she added.
“The watchword is that there must be no taboo, we must be able to move forward on all subjects,” insisted Prisca Thevenot, pointing to “environmental standards”, which, “from time to time , rather than liberating and protecting, came to suffocate French agriculture.