several farmers from Rural Coordination gathered in the 17th arrondissement of Paris

Rural Coordination, the second largest French agricultural union, has remained discreet about the modalities of the mobilization of farmers that it organizes around and in the capital.

Around ten activists from the Rural Coordination, yellow caps on their heads, gathered on Sunday January 5, at Place du Brazil in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, noted the franceinfo journalist present on site, on the eve of a day of action in the capital and its inner suburbs planned by the agricultural union.

As soon as they arrive, these farmers are surrounded by police who question them, order them to leave the premises, remove their yellow flags hanging from the gate and ask them what happens next with their program, which annoys one of the farmers. “You want to herd us like sheep, as far as I know we are free, it's a bit lamentable. You want to know when I go to the toilet too? We didn't create a traffic jam, we didn't damage anything at all “he gets annoyed.

“Telling us to leave and take off the hats is nonsense”protests for his part Jérôme Batret, president of the Rural Coordination in Haute-Loire and Rhône-Alpes. “We arrived, they jumped on us, there are around forty police officers, we are the unwelcome ones, that’s clear.

“We are not going to let go of the mobilization because we have had empty promises for a year.”

Jérôme Batret

at franceinfo

And Jérôme Batret warns: “If this continues it will get harder and there will be more and more of us. We have done 600 km and we are not going to leave like that.” These farmers maintain that they do not want to wait to be received on January 13 by François Bayrou, but demand to see the Prime Minister before Monday noon while Brazil Square was chosen in reference to the free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur countries, which are opposed by farmers.

Rural Coordination, the second agricultural union, called on its members to demonstrate et “to ride in Paris, by car or tractor” from Sunday January 5. “The idea is to be there on Sunday afternoon to demonstrate on Monday.”Patrick Legras, spokesperson for the second agricultural union, told AFP. The union intends to obtain guarantees from the Prime Minister for the defense of agriculture focused on the protection of small farmers whom she considers crushed by free trade.

However, the Paris and Val-de-Marne police headquarters have banned “any undeclared gathering” in the center of Paris and near the Rungis market from Sunday 6:00 p.m. until Monday February 6, noon.