Farmers' crisis: mobilizations in “all departments”, anger is rising

The main agricultural unions are calling for mobilization from 18th nbsp;November throughout the territory. While the first demonstrations are unlikely to cause much disruption, they could quickly gain momentum.

Farmers' crisis, act 2. Several months after significant mobilizations that blocked tolls and roads and almost a year after the start of the agricultural crisis, farmers' unions have announced that they are restarting the movement. The president of the FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau, and that of the Young Farmers (JA), Pierrick Horel, have called for the mobilization of farmers at from Monday, November 18 with demonstrations and gatherings organized throughout the “entire territory”.

“Our goal is not to annoy the French,” Arnaud Rousseau made it clear at a press conference on Wednesday, November 13. The union leader also promised “responsible” mobilizations: “Despite the frustration, anger and helplessness, it is essential that there be no attacks on property and people.” “The objective is neither to block [the French], nor to annoy them, much less to starve them”, repeated the head of the FNSEA, recalling that the mobilization must allow the government to hear us: he wants to “put pressure on the public authorities to ensure that our demands around the dignity of our profession, income, the simplification of our daily lives and the promotion of food sovereignty are heard”.

Mobilizations, but no road blockages

Neither the FNSEA nor the JA have called for the blocking of roads and tolls as was the case at the beginning of the year, Arnaud Rousseau even dismissed the idea of ​​”blocking the motorways” on France Inter, on Wednesday 13 November. The mobilisations planned in “all departments” should therefore take other forms at the beginning of the social movement.

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For its part, the Rural Coordination, the second largest agricultural union, has promised “an agricultural revolt” starting on November 19 and called on farmers to demonstrate in front of the prefectures that day. Following this demonstration, the union expects a “strong and immediate decision from the State.” otherwise it warns against blockages of the "French food freight" which could occur as early as November 20th “in order to give the government a taste of what our country will be like tomorrow without farmers”.

Similar demands and a rejection of the agreement with Mercosur

Farmers are surprisingly disappointed with the political fallout despite the promises made by the Attal government, since replaced by the Barnier government, after the first act of the agricultural crisis. They are also defending the same line with similar demands concerning the simplification of measures targeting farms, the dignity of farmers and their income, said Pierrick Horel. Expectations that are pushing unions to oppose the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur (South American economic alliance) which could come to fruition at the G20 in Brazil on 18 and 19 November. France is, however, opposed to the agreement as it stands

The signing of this agreement could authorize the partial or total elimination of customs duties on the importation of meat, sugar or corn, as well as the establishment of quotas for imports of Latin American beef of some 100,000 tons per year. Farmers fear unfair competition, but also cheap livestock farming conditions, and deplore the increasing importation of foreign products into France, which would increase pressure on prices. “The message is clear: we want European coherence. Faced with the danger of Mercosur, we are all mobilized. If Europe were to validate this agreement, it would be a catastrophe for European and French agriculture,” warn union representatives.