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A large majority against an agreement. MEPs rejected 484 votes 'for' and 70 'against' for a government proposal opposing the free trade treaty between the European Union and Mercosur in its current state. A debate was organized during the day, under article 50-1 of the Constitution. The result of the vote is purely consultative and nothing will oblige the government to follow the opinion of the deputies.
The anti-Mercosur revolt is expanding in Europe. “Poland does not accept, and we are not the only ones, (…) the agreement with the countries of South America in this form”declared Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday, November 26. Poland thus joins France and Italy in trying to form a blocking minority against this text within the European Union. A debate on the subject is planned in the National Assembly this afternoon.
Farmers in front of the European Parliament. A procession of 25 tractors from Rural Coordination, the second largest agricultural union in France, arrived near the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The majority FNSEA-Young Farmers alliance plans to occupy the field until Thursday evening, after a first week of demonstrations against the Mercosur free trade treaty.
Bruno Retailleau promises firmness. “We can demonstrate in France without breaking, without hurting”declared the Minister of the Interior on franceinfo, ensuring that he would show firmness with farmers in the event of damage. “I don’t want to have double standards” et “violence is not constitutional”added the tenant of Place Beauvau, while considering that “their cause is just”.
The FNSEA calls for calm actions. “We are not here to annoy the French”reaffirmed Arnaud Rousseau, the president of the first agricultural union in France. He called on farmers not to blame “to goods and people”, “because we consider that to achieve our objectives today, breaking and threatening is not a solution”.
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