Beyond their activity, the farmers met share the feeling of a large part of the rural world, of being the “forgotten”, the “abandoned” by politicians and authorities.
If the far right was in the majority in rural France in the European elections of June 9, French farmers were not its strongest support. This vote tempts some but others also doubt the capacity of the National Rally (RN) to defend them. And European aid, although criticized, is essential to their survival.
At the entrance to Braslou, a village of 315 inhabitants, located in the south of Touraine, the sign indicating the name of the town is still upside down. It has remained upside down since the farmers’ anger that set the countryside ablaze in France and Europe at the beginning of the year. A way of showing that “we walk on our heads”explains one of those who participated in this “reversal” here and in the surrounding villages.
A cereal farmer, Mathieu* took over from his father at the head of a fairly large farm of 270 hectares. He is one of about ten farmers in the commune and also manages an agricultural works company whose machinery is used for other farms. He is a member of the Young Farmers’ Union (JA), close to the majority FNSEA. Politically, he claims to be a member of the National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.
He voted for the far right on June 9. He regrets that not all European farmers are subject to the same standards, that certain chemical products banned in France are authorized in Spain, and that Ukrainian poultry, which is poorly controlled, has invaded the French market. “I am not against imports as long as trade is fair and labelling is transparent” he protests.
A Macronist MP appreciated for her listening skills
Sunday June 30, he does not rule out voting to reappoint the deputy from Emmanuel Macron’s camp, Fabienne Colboc. She is “accessible, often in the field, very active and attentive” of the small working group formed with around twenty other operators to follow the measures promised by Emmanuel Macron and his government after the winter crisis.
She received them in Paris in her MP’s office, accompanied them on a visit to school canteens, the supply of which is debated. But the dissolution of the National Assembly decided by Emmanuel Macron brought all work in progress to a halt. He wants to resume them after the electoral sequence.
If he says he is against “macronism”, he qualifies: “If I vote for my ideas, I vote RN. But if I want to defend my profession, I vote for her. The current government has followed us in our demands”On the other hand, he doubts the ability of the RN candidate, whom he does not know, to listen to and defend farmers.
Mathieu has not forgotten that the Identity and Democracy (ID) group to which the RN belongs in the European Parliament voted for free trade agreements with New Zealand. The 15 French RN MEPs voted against but this created doubt.
And then the local RN candidate does not organize a public meeting in the area, the RN agricultural program is barely mentioned. “We vote for someone we feel close to, an approachable interlocutor”he justifies.
In the European elections, in all rural areas in France, the National Rally (RN) came close to 40%, or more than 8 points above the country as a whole. In Braslou, the RN obtained 25.4% of the vote on June 9 and the party led by Marine Le Pen’s niece, Marion Maréchal, 7.5%. Or 32.9% for the far right, a little less than nationally (36.8%).
Europe, a necessary evil
The rural vote is not the peasant vote. And the weight of farmers in the population continues to decrease. Historically, they vote mainly for the traditional right, not for the extreme right. In the European elections, they gave 26% of their votes to the RN, less than the entire French population.
In Braslou, Sylvain, who has grown organic cereals on 150 hectares since 2012, did not go to vote on June 9, like 49% of French voters. The disastrous spring weather did not give him time. We had to sow to catch up. For the legislative elections, he is not sure of anything.
He recognizes that without European aid, he would have to cease his activity. But if “the prices reflected our production costs, we would not need this aid. We must be able to make a living from our profession. I want to defend my salary.”
Organic farmer but not eco-friendly
A little further away, Magali and her husband, organic farmers for three generations, strive to maintain diversified production on 137 hectares: cereals (wheat, flax, sunflower, spelt, millet, etc.), pigs in semi-free range, young cattle …that they are sold in part through direct sales. They employ two employees.
Magali also considers that agricultural income was the real demand of the crisis at the beginning of the year. “The European CAP is only compensation for the fact that we are selling at a loss. And France is adding constraints to us, for example satellite flights over organic crops to control them. This requires you to have a latest generation smartphone to connect to a dedicated application. Emmanuel Macron believes that it is digital that will save agriculture” she protests. She is convinced that traditional conventional agriculture, based on chemical fertilizers, will eventually disappear by itself.
The “forgotten” people of rural areas
Without saying who she will vote for, she rules out voting for the environmentalists, who are too dogmatic in her eyes – when they oppose, for example, plowing the land. She believes that “the fear of the RN does not make us move forward”.
Beyond their activity, the farmers we met share the feeling of a large part of the rural world, of being the “forgotten”, the “abandoned” by politicians and authorities. Desertion of public services, inaccessible social aid due to incomes that remain above the minimums… And they are frightened by an insecurity and an immigration that they only experience through television.
