With a third series of promises and concessions in just a few days, the French government has managed to satisfy the angry farmers and avert a threatened escalation of the protests.
The two largest farmers’ unions, the FNSEA and the Jeunes Agriculteurs, appealed to their members on Thursday to lift the blockades on motorways and intercity roads and return to their farms in an “orderly” manner. “Tangible progress” has been made on a number of issues in dialogue with the government, said Arnaud Rousseau, head of FNSEA, which alone represents 200,000 farmers, almost half of all French farmers. Their movement continues, but the form of action is changing – at least for now. If the concessions turn out to be sensationalism, you’ll quickly be back on the streets.
The solidarity of the French was massive
Before that, France’s new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had made a little more concessions to the farmers. He promised animal breeders 150 million euros a year in tax reductions and subsidies. The sovereignty of French agriculture should be enshrined in law. Furthermore, and this point particularly bothers environmentalists, he suspended a plan of action against the use of pesticides and at the same time promised that fruits and vegetables from countries where the drug thiaclopride was used without restrictions would not receive import licenses. Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire added that he would carry out inspections of all supermarket chains “in the coming days” to check whether they adhered to the agreed price fairness.
The farmers’ protest began almost two weeks ago in the southwest of the country, where cattle breeders are struggling with an epidemic that is almost depriving some of them of their existence. Over time the movement expanded and reached Paris a few days ago. All main axes leading to the capital were blocked. The solidarity of the people was massive: in surveys, up to 92 percent of French people said that they thought the protests were justified.
For Attal, who has only been head of government for a few weeks, the showdown with the farmers was an unparalleled baptism of fire – a quick test of maturity. He showed a lot of closeness, did not shy away from direct confrontation, but also quickly made very far-reaching concessions and distributed money to all the petitioners. And he promised once again that he would do everything in his power to oppose the conclusion of the free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur states.
“We are very moved by the support we have received from the entire nation, almost physically,” said union boss Rousseau. But the French’s sympathy would probably soon have suffered if the farmers had continued to block the country despite the government’s generous support.