LIVE – Farmers: actions carried out across the country for “act 2” of anger

Ten months after act 1 of anger, farmers are mobilizing again at the start of the week. The main unions are calling for a day of action across the country this Monday. They are protesting against the slow implementation of promises made last winter by the Attal government, but also against the free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur countries. In total, 82 actions are planned in 80 departments in France. Follow the evolution of the situation live.

“Emmanuel Macron lies and betrays rurality”, says Sébastien Chenu

On Europe 1, Sébastien Chenu, vice-president of the National Rally, estimated this Monday morning that Emmanuel Macron lacked sincerity in his opposition to the free trade treaty with Mercosur. “Emmanuel Macron lies to us, he betrays rurality, he ultimately betrays France by having allowed France to weaken, to weaken its voice within the European Union. In reality, and implicitly, he has never been hostile to Mercosur. First of all, it is part of its logic and logic of major trade, of international free trade treaties. This is his ultra-liberal logic,” he criticizes.

Actions carried out throughout France from Sunday evening

As of Sunday evening, farmers went in a procession near the Villacoublay air base, near Paris, to denounce the proposed free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries, blocking two of the three lanes of traffic.

— Sytadin (@sytadin) https://twitter.com/sytadin/status/1857786073700512153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

France “will not sign Mercosur as it stands”

The proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur countries would be the final straw for agricultural unions. But for the moment, France is opposed to this treaty. Traveling in Latin America, Emmanuel Macron categorically refuses to sign this free trade treaty “as is”. “It’s a question of production standards,” explains an advisor to the Élysée.

The reasons for anger

Last February, after long weeks of protest, the government of

The operators also denounce the free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay). This deal intends to eliminate more than 90% of customs duties between Europe and South America and would thus facilitate the importation, on the Old Continent, of sugar, poultry and even beef. French farmers see this as a risk of unfair competition to the extent that European health standards for breeding are much stricter than within Mercosur. Finally, farmers still consider the standards to which they are subject to too complex and the income insufficient.