in the event of “long-term blockage, there will be zero tolerance”, warns Bruno Retailleau

On the eve of a new cycle of mobilization of farmers, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, warned, Sunday November 17 on RTL, that “if there is a lasting blockage, there will be zero tolerance”. The tenant of Place Beauvau, who received agricultural union leaders this week, informed them, he explained, of “three limits” : “no damage to property, no damage to people, no encystment, no lasting blockage”. Otherwise, “we will not hesitate to mobilize mobile forces”he added.

Asked about the free trade treaty between the European Union and Mercosur, Bruno Retailleau declared that he was ” Of course “ possible not to sign it. According to him, France, which opposes this agreement, “is completely wrong in terms of economic approaches” in the agricultural sector.

The minister also pointed out the “bureaucratization within” et “liberation with all the wind outside”. Affirming to be in favor of “ fair and balanced competition”Bruno Retailleau also estimated that French farmers were suffering too much “constraints”.

The minister also said he made a difference between the mobilization of farmers “who cannot make a living from their work”and the railway workers – whose unions are calling for an indefinite strike from December 11 – who “regularly take French workers hostage”whose “greviculture”. “There are double standards”he insisted.

Don’t “spoil” the end-of-year celebrations

At the same time, Arnaud Rousseau, the president of the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA), the main agricultural union, was invited on BFM-TV. He announced that « 82 actions » were planned from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday.

“There will be no blockages”he assured, specifying however that traffic on the N118 (between Sèvres and Ile-de-France) will probably be “slow motion” Sunday evening. “We do not want to block the French, but call them to witness”explained the representative. According to Arnaud Rousseau, the movement will continue “until mid-December at the latest” so as not to ” spoil “ the end of year celebrations.

On Friday, the government sought to reassure farmers in difficulty. “I will do everything I can” et “all the promises made to the farmers who demonstrated at the start of the year will be respected”assured the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, on the sidelines of the Assises des Départements in Angers.

The head of government reiterated his opposition to the agreement between the EU and Mercosur, while Emmanuel Macron intends to plead this weekend in Latin America against the possible upcoming signing of this treaty particularly feared by French farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, for its part, clarified the terms of the subsidized loans, a pressing request from the trade union organizations which welcomed these measures while demanding their implementation ” urgent “. Two schemes will be put in place in the form of loans distributed by banks wishing to participate, the ministry reported in a press release.