KURT DESPLENTER / AFP
The president of Rural Coordination, Véronique Le Floc'h, confirms on RTL that her members are preparing “punctual blockages” in Paris. (Illustrative photo)
AGRICULTURE – A surge of pressure before the start of the new government. The president of Rural Coordination, the second agricultural union behind the FNSEA-JA alliance, confirmed this Friday, January 3 on RTL that its members planned to “ go to Paris » to organize “blockages”. And this from this Sunday 5 or Monday 6 if Prime Minister François Bayrou does not give them an appointment to discuss their grievances.
“We don’t have an answer coming to us, so we have to go look for it”launched into the microphone of our colleagues Véronique Le Floc'h, a few minutes before the start of the first council of ministers of the Bayrou government. The union had given the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard until the day before, this Thursday, to receive its representatives.
« Occasional blockages » in the absence of a positive signal
“We are still waiting today. We hope that he (François Bayrou) will be convinced at the end of this council of ministers, if not with his Minister of Agriculture, at least with the other ministers, to give us importance and answer our questions »supported Véronique Le Floc'h. Before listing some of the demands of its members, including “an energy shield” and the revision of the calculation of farmers' social charges.
“No response from the government would mean once again being betrayed. So I don't know how we will be able to retain our farmers, but if not this time, it will be at the Agricultural Show.”added the president of the second union of the profession, insisting on the fact that her movement was confined for the moment to the idea of “punctual blockages” in the capital. She did not specify the exact times and locations of the planned mobilizations.
« Exception agriculturelle »
“Our members and supporters are preparing, and we are going into the electoral campaign on the 7th. So we have (Sunday) 5 (January) left, we also have (Monday) 6 left”only specified Véronique Le Floc'h.
This call comes a few days before the official launch of the campaign for the elections to the chambers of agriculture, which begins on January 7. The vote, which will take place online or by mail from January 15 to 31, will determine the new balance of power between agricultural unions.
One of the challenges of this election will be to see to what extent the Rural Coordination, whose yellow caps have gained visibility since last winter's crisis, can shake up the hegemony of the majority alliance FNSEA-Jeunes Agriculteurs, who also requested “an emergency appointment” with François Bayrou after his appointment.
Customary of punchy actions, the CR wants to obtain guarantees from the Prime Minister for the defense of a « exception agriculturelle » French, focused on the defense of small farmers whom it considers crushed by free trade.
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