For angry farmers, Mercosur as “ultimate provocation”

Returned to the entrance to many villages after last winter's discontent, the signs for localities throughout the department were placed in the center of Lyon on Monday morning. At the foot of the Musée des Confluences, Rhone farmers braved the November cold to express their frustration to local parliamentarians. Like their counterparts, who are demonstrating throughout France, current concerns about the imminent signing of the Mercosur agreement compete with annoyance at promises not kept by the executive.

« We are waiting for the winter political announcements to materialize »insists Élise Michallet, head of the FDSEA 69. Administrative procedures, revenue weaknesses and distortion of competition remain on the menu ten months after the spectacular blocking of the A6 and A7 motorways.

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