Images of farmers expelled from the Lot-et-Garonne prefecture, including leaders of Rural Coordination

«This is the government's answer for the agricultural world. We take you out like dogs», denounces trade unionist José Pérez, surrounded by farmers. Tuesday, November 19, the presidents of CR47 (Rural Coordination 47), as well as several dozen farmers, were dislodged by the police of the Lot-et-Garonne prefecture after a high-tension rally.

Some 350 to 400 demonstrators gathered in front of the prefecture
at the call of Rural Coordination, according to police figures. Tractors dumped waste there at midday, after removal
riot barriers and the retreat of a CRS company. Bales of hay were also reportedly set on fire, requiring the intervention of firefighters.

“We just want to be able to live”

A delegation from the union was received at the prefecture in the afternoon. But for lack of having obtained “strong commitments» by the Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard, the representatives of CR47, Karine Duc and José Perez, refused to leave the premises. They finally “had to be escorted by the police, without incident», Wrote the prefecture in a press release published late in the evening.

The two officials deplored “the government's response”, who took them out according to them “like dogs». «We just want to be able to live in our profession, just to be able to work, just to be able to produce, just to feed people. We are not asking for anything, just to have the right to work as they work everywhere in Europe”declared José Pérez, not without emotion.