While many farmers believe that since their large-scale mobilization almost a year ago, “nothing has changed”, the Prime Minister Michel Barnier, exceptional guest on the show Ma France on France Bleu this Fridayassured that “all promises will be respected.”
Evoking the agricultural orientation law which was under discussion in the Senate before the dissolution of the National Assembly, and the examination of which must resume in January, the Prime Minister assured: “We are going to take it back, in accordance with our commitments. It is a promise kept. All the promises made to the farmers who demonstrated at the start of the year will be respected”he said into the microphone of Wendy Bouchard and Germain Treille.
“I will do everything I can”
Faced with the very touching testimony of Stéphane, a 59-year-old farmer in distress living in Dordogne, who thought about ending her life due to numerous financial problems, the Prime Minister wanted to emphasize that he stood alongside the farmers: “We must not leave these men and women alone in their distress, their solitude. There are organizations to help psychologically and financially, we are putting in place emergency aid”, he pointed out. It's necessary “respect distress and respond to it”he clarified. “I tell the peasants that they can have confidence in the government. I will do everything I can,” he assured.
“We have kept all the commitments, and added others”
In the 2025 budget, currently presented to the National Assembly, “we have kept all our commitments”, said Michel Barnier. “I am clear, all the commitments made, and we have added others, in particular to deal with bluetongue” and other epidemics “which affect so many farms”. “We keep all commitments”he insisted, citing in particular the extension of exemptions on fallow land, single administrative control, the wolf plan, the entry of agricultural professions into the list of professions in tension or even the decrees on land spreading. Michel Barnier also cited other measures such as subsidized loans and financial aid granted to operators.
“I want to report on what has been done, particularly over the last few months, but also for six months now, on the follow-up to the aid measures which were announced to farmers in January. We are keeping all the commitments, I say well all the commitments”, he insisted.
“I will do what I said, but I will not perform a miracle”
The Prime Minister also reiterated his desire to give more power to prefects, to adapt authorizations according to local situations. “The prefects will receive a lot of power and the ability to act as close as possible to citizens. This is simplification”he explained. I want the prefects, who represent the State in everything that concerns the State, to be held accountable and they will be.”he said. As always, I will do as I say. But I won't do a miracle”, recalled the head of government.
