Farmers' Mobilization Intensifies Amid Political Crisis
The farmers' movement in France is set to intensify in response to the ongoing political crisis and the absence of government leadership. Quentin Le Guillous, the secretary general of Young Farmers (JA), has warned that mobilization efforts will "harden" in the coming days. This escalation is primarily aimed at protesting the government's failure to fulfill promises made to the agricultural sector, particularly in light of the recent censure of Michel Barnier's government.
Le Guillous highlighted that the absence of key political figures, including Ursula Von der Leyen, who is currently in Uruguay negotiating a free trade agreement with Mercosur countries, has further fueled frustrations among farmers. The Young Farmers' movement, allied with the majority union FNSEA, announced plans for a third round of demonstrations scheduled for December 9 and 10. Previous demonstrations focused on opposing the Mercosur trade agreement and addressing various challenges faced by farmers, including low pricing and income issues.
In addition to the planned protests, farmers are organizing visits to large and medium-sized stores to highlight the need for fair pricing and to ensure transparency regarding product origins. Le Guillous emphasized the importance of engaging with all Members of Parliament to demand accountability and seek solutions for the agricultural community. The FNSEA president, Arnaud Rousseau, has characterized the fight against the Mercosur agreement as an "existential fight" for the future of French agriculture.
