“It’s going to be loud!” : what should we expect from the new agricultural mobilization which begins this Monday?

Here we go again. One year after an initial mobilization that crescendoed until the agricultural show at the end of February, farmers returned to the streets starting this Monday, November 18. They are expected to demonstrate across France for two days. “There are 82 actions recorded, mainly in the prefectures and sub-prefectures. They will take place until Tuesday”, warned the boss of the FNSEA Arnaud Rousseau, when his vice-president Luc Smessaert confirmed that all departments would be concerned.

It is the announced signing of the free trade treaty with Mercosur, which the European Commission hopes to conclude by the end of the year, opening the doors of the common market to the countries of South America, which is the detonator. But the agricultural world also wants to remember that the profession is going through a deep crisis, which has become almost structural, and that the responses provided by the Attal government, until now, have done nothing. The year's poor harvests and the appearance of new animal diseases have not helped matters.

“Probable” traffic restrictions

However, contrary to what they had undertaken at the start of the year, the agricultural unions should not carry out blocking operations, in order to avoid the movement becoming unpopular when, until then, it has been generally supported by the French. . If “traffic restrictions are likely”warned Arnaud Rousseau, particularly around metropolises, the main roads will not be disrupted. As at the beginning of the year, however, the signs in certain municipalities will be reversed, and like what was done this weekend in Lozère, large tarpaulins will be installed at the entrance to villages to attract visitors. 'attention.

Above all, new to this action, the farmers intend to light “fires of anger” almost everywhere. There will be detonations so that Macron, where he is in Rio (the head of state is traveling as part of the G20 summit, editor's note)hears us to say no to this Mercosur. It's going to make noise until tomorrow evening so that it resonates throughout France.”resumes Luc Smessaert. It is particularly on roundabouts that these emergency fires should be lit.

“To the Elysée” by tractor

And after? For the moment, it's difficult to know. What on the Rural Coordination side, we intend to go beyond these two days if the responses provided are insufficient. “We are going to block food freight. The logistics centers of large-scale distribution are targeted. First in the south-west of France”detailed President Véronique Le Floc'h, in an interview with West France. She even assures that her troops could ride in a tractor “to the Elysée” if necessary.

A long and hard movement? On RTL, the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau has already warned “that in the event of a lasting blockage, there will be zero tolerance. There are limits: no damage to property, no damage to people, no encystment. Otherwise, we will not hesitate to mobilize forces.” The message is clear. Not sure, however, that he will succeed in calming the spirits even before the start of the mobilization.