ANALYSIS. Anger of farmers: “Since Paris, we have become experts in the matter”, the Rural Coordination of Lot-et-Garonne has changed strategy to demonstrate

Since the first day of the mobilization of farmers decreed by the Rural Coordination (CR), Serge Bousquet-Cassagne has been everywhere. Tuesday, in Perpignan, the president of the Chamber of Agriculture and totemic figure of CR 47 coordinated CR 66, 34 and 11 for the blocking of the border between France and Spain

at the Boulou toll before appearing the same evening, at Place de la Préfecture in Agen. Wednesday, in Tarn-et-Garonne, at the Intermarché base in Montbartier (Tarn-et-Garonne), he took on the role of spokesperson.

This Thursday, at noon, he was at the U store warehouse in Sainte-Colombe-en-Bruilhois. He also remains very active on social networks to comment on various publications with unifying messages (“We are peasants everywhere”, “From your courage will be born a new generation of upright peasants”).

“They are no longer demonstrating only here because they have realized that the solution does not come from Lot-et-Garonne”

CR 47 now strengthens all the other branches of the agricultural union chaired by Véronique Le Floc'h in all corners of Occitanie and New Aquitaine where actions are taken to paralyze “food freight”: the port of Bordeaux, the power stations of Beychac-et-Caillau, Scalandes in Mont-de-Marsan, etc.

Since last January when a convoy of Lot-et-Garonnais tractors managed to reach Rungis after a real epic, the troops of José Pérez and Karine Duc have felt themselves growing wings to defend their livelihood.

The yellow hats realized that they could export their way – reputedly muscular – of demonstrating. “Since Paris, we have become experts in the field,” Bousquet-Cassagne does not hide. They took on a new dimension, adapting to each situation.

The CR 47 has clearly changed strategy. “They are no longer demonstrating only here because they have realized that the solution does not come from Lot-et-Garonne,” notes an observer who knows them well. They expanded their movement to New Aquitaine and Occitanie, two regions where they could exist. Elsewhere, it is the FDSEA which predominates. But CR 47 still lacks cohesion.” She is also seeking to take other chambers of agriculture (the elections take place next January). She therefore needs to smooth out her image.

Large distribution systematically targeted

The men of the Pérez-Duc complementary duo do everything to put public opinion in their pocket. If sprinkling slurry and burning tires are still the fashion, angry farmers have, until now, been careful not to hinder the movement of the population and, with the exception of Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, to not to appear politically as required by the statutes of the CR. They understood that this could risk confusing their demands.