Farmer protests in France: Blockades in place on several major roads

Tractor convoys are heading towards Paris ahead of a major protest planned for Thursday (January 8), despite several bans restricting their movement.

The Coordination rurale has maintained its call for Thursday’s action with farmers from as far as the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Alpes-Maritimes, and even Corsica departing for the capital at the start of the week. 

Farmers from departments closer to Paris are expected to make their way to the capital today. 

“We may have lost some members [due to the prefectoral restrictions], but we will arrive in Paris to voice our grievances,” said union president Bertrand Venteau to France Inter this morning. “We will win,” he added.

Farmers nationwide are protesting over both the treatment of cowherds with lumpy skin disease – this is a particular issue in the south, where the disease has been more prevalent – as well as the EU-Mercosur free trade deal. 

A key EU-wide vote on the deal will take place tomorrow, and if successful, will see the deal signed as early as January 12. 

If the vote passes – regardless of whether France votes in favour or not – it could lead to wider anger in the sector and more protests from the weekend onwards.

Toulouse blockaded 

Calls to blockade Toulouse, made by local leaders of France’s four main farming unions, have been heeded this morning.

Tractors are blocking the ring-road around the Haute-Garonne city at several points, leading to spiralling traffic in all areas.

Some blockades have seen bales of burning hay used to block road exits.

The action has taken place despite the Haute-Garonne prefecture banning tractor convoys from forming until Thursday night.

Elsewhere, tractors planning to descend on the capital have been stopped by police officers and are now barricading other roads, including the N124, A66, and A61.

“We will not leave the N124, the main access road to Toulouse, until the total culling of livestock affected by the lumpy skin disease is halted,” said president of the Gers Coordination rurale branch Lionel Candelon.

Protestors “have everything that they need to remain in place for a week or two,” he said, despite the cold.

Toulouse is the focal point for farmers from several departments in the area including Gers. 

The convoys are looking to create “a gradual paralysis of the city,” Mr Candelon added.

Alongside convoys, any farmer protests in the area have also been banned by the prefecture, giving law enforcement greater rights to disperse protestors.

Elsewhere, the A64 south of the city remains blocked, and farmers in Hérault are taking a ‘snail’ protest of extremely slow-moving tractors near Montpellier.

Blockades south of Lyon persist on the M7, as well as others on the A51. However, a blockade on the major A7 was lifted on Tuesday.

Other blockades on the A79, A31, and A84 are also in place.

In departments closer to the capital, most farmers are planning to protest in the city, although in the Hauts-de-France demonstrations are expected in Amiens today.

Drivers can use our article to check for live updates of where blockades are taking place across the French road network.