Will tractors parade through the streets of the capital in the coming days? The Rural Coordination (CR) called for “climb to Paris” et “everywhere in France” from Sunday January 5 to demonstrate from Monday, despite the authorities' bans. “Our demonstration is a bit like the last hope to get out of this”defended Frédéric Prégéant, treasurer of Rural Coordination in Loir-et-Cher, Sunday on franceinfo.
A year after a massive mobilization leading to commitments from the Attal government, the second agricultural union wishes to carry out field actions to quickly obtain new concrete measures. The implementation of the provisions announced by previous governments was in fact suspended by the dissolution of the National Assembly this summer, then censorship. “After a while, we have to hold successive governments accountable. We have changed Prime Ministers, but we still have the same Minister of Agriculture [Annie Genevard] who is aware of agricultural problems. We want guarantees”explained Amélie Rebière, one of the vice-presidents of the CR, Saturday evening on France 3.
1 What actions are the farmers of Rural Coordination preparing?
The Rural Coordination remained discreet on Sunday about the modalities of its mobilization. “We deliberately divided the organization of this day and the days to come between five people” only, explained the president of the union, Véronique Le Floc'h, on RMC. “Everyone is responsible for where the farmers gather, whether they are in a car or a tractor. And then we will see what happens”. An appointment was therefore made at 6 p.m. on a farm in the Ile-de-France region in Orveau (Essonne) by the Loir-et-Cher union branch.
Of the “filter dams” are planned, for a mobilization which could last “three, four or five days”, according to the union cited by The Parisian. “It is not a question of blocking Parisians, nor Ile-de-France residents”also assured Amélie Rebière on France 3. The number 2 of the CR assured that no mobilization would take place in the region, and that these are above all “tractors which will come from Ile-de-France, from neighboring departments” who will parade in Paris.
“A priori, we are prohibited from entering Paris” Sunday evening, “we obey, we will get into place during the night”for his part declared to AFP Christian Convers, secretary general of the organization. The Paris police headquarters and the Val-de-Marne prefecture prohibit undeclared gatherings from Sunday 6 p.m. to Monday noon. THE “security device” set up in a large area of the center of the capital “aims to prevent all damage and violence and all harsh actions”said the Paris police headquarters.
2 What are they demanding?
In recent days, the second agricultural union expected from the Prime Minister a “engagement” on two points “which cost nothing” : “stopping the over-transposition of European rules in France”as well as the implementation of “controls on imports rather than on farms”explained Sophie Lenaerts, other vice-president of the union, to AFP.
Over-transposition consists of imposing stricter standards than European standards, particularly in terms of pesticides. “We want the same laws as all the other Europeans”demanded Patrick Legras, spokesperson for the agricultural union, on franceinfo. At the end of November, the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, unveiled a series of “simplification” measures. Announcements welcomed by the FNSEA-Young Farmers (JA) alliance, but insufficient for the CR. “The account is still not there”reacted Véronique Le Floc'h. Rural Coordination also opposes the definitive ratification of the free trade treaty between the EU and the Mercosur countries, accused of encouraging unfair competition.
Another demand, supported by all agricultural unions: the maintenance of farmers' income. Véronique Le Floc'h said she hoped “a review of the calculation of social charges”Friday on RTL.
3 How are other unions reacting?
Rural Coordination is the only union to have launched a call for the mobilization of farmers. The FNSEA-JA alliance, the leading union force, did not join it, but wanted to reiterate its expectations around three central subjects: “the dignity of the profession and the meaning we wish to give it with food sovereignty”, “farmers' income”et “administrative simplification and the whole subject of controls” recalled Arnaud Rousseau, president of the FNSEA, on franceinfo on December 27. “What we expect from François Bayrou is that he can say very quickly whether he takes them on board and when he will provide the answers”.
Arnaud Rousseau also calls on the Prime Minister to “respect the word of the State” on “cash loans” because “behind, there are men and women who, on their farm, wait with bundles of invoices on the corner of the desk”. He also called for accelerating “compensation for bluetongue”dont “the very first installments are just starting to arrive”.
For his part, Laurence Marandola, spokesperson for the Peasant Confederation, called on franceinfo on Saturday for “concrete measures for farmers’ income” with “remunerative prices above production costs”. “Otherwise, we work at a loss and we die”alerted the spokesperson for the third agricultural union. She called Matignon to “really respect union pluralism, democracy, so that every farmer feels represented and not just the industrial model”.
The fact remains that the date of this new mobilization owes nothing to chance. The call to demonstrate was relayed at the end of December by the Rural Coordination a few days before the official start of the campaign for the elections of the chambers of agriculture. This election must determine the new balance of power between the agricultural unions, within which the FNSEA is currently ultra-dominant.
4 What is the government's response?
François Bayrou proposed a meeting on Friday with the four agricultural unions on Monday January 13, on the eve of his general policy speech to the Assembly. A date considered too far away by Rural Coordination, which wishes to be received by Tuesday. The FNSEA-JA alliance, for its part, indicated that it was already in contact with Matignon. The Rural Coordination claims to have no news, and the Peasant Confederation has not been contacted either. “All the measures that were promised at the start of 2024 have been honored by the government”the Minister of Agriculture assured Thursday.
