France farmer protests: 100 tractors in Paris, roadblocks remain elsewhere
Farmers continue to blockade a number of routes ahead of Mercosur vote on Friday
Farmers began arriving overnight and setting up outside some of the city's most famous landmarks
Etoilepolaire/Shutterstock/France24/X
Hundreds of farmers have descended on Paris today (January 8) as part of protests that government authorities have called ‘illegal’.
Farmers made their way to the capital despite several prefectures banning convoys, sometimes driving overnight to ensure they reached the capital this morning.
Around 100 tractors were parked across the capital in iconic locations this morning, including the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.
Some attempted to make their way to the Assemblée nationale to park outside but were intercepted by police, with only one vehicle making it.
However, farmers walked to the building to continue protests.
Head of the Assemblée Yaël Braun-Pivet went to meet with protestors outside the building, but was pelted with snow and met with shouts of 'démission !' (resign).
She proposed a meeting with union leaders at 14:00, but for now farmers and are continuing their protest outside the parliament.
Morning action led to some disruption for commuters and drivers in the city and the surrounding areas.
The A13 was temporarily closed following a demonstration, before reopening around 08:15.
In other locations around the capital, farmers cut down trees to implement makeshift roadblocks.
Outside of the capital protests by farmers at local levels continue, including a blockade along the A9 near Perpignan, as well as the N20 near Foix (Ariège) and the N125 in Haute-Garonne.
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A major ‘siege’ of Toulouse saw more than 200 cars and tractors block the city’s ring-road yesterday. It was forcibly cleared by law enforcement, leading to more than a dozen arrests.
Protests are being held over both the treatment of cattleherds with lumpy skin disease and the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal, which will see a key vote take place tomorrow.
Farmer action is ‘illegal’ and ‘Interior Ministry’ will not allow it
Calls to protest in the capital were made by the Coordination rurale group, one of the four major unions in the sector, with farmers as far south as Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Corsica making their way to Paris.
Government authorities have criticised farmers for the protests, as in some cases they ignored prefectural orders and circumvented or destroyed roadblocks ‘sometimes taking reckless risks,” said the Agriculture Ministry.
“The situation we’ve seen since last night is unacceptable… What's happening this morning is illegal,” government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said to FranceInfo.
“The government does not condone the blockades.. [and has] has always been engaged in dialogue with the unions,” she added, citing several meetings at the start of the week.
“Discussions are taking place, (…) we have allowed a degree of understanding and for people to express their views, but partially blocking the A13 motorway or attempting to gather in front of the National Assembly is illegal… The Interior Ministry will not allow it.”
Dozens of arrests and forced removals of tractors have already taken place this morning, said president of the Coordination rurlae union Bertrand Venteau.
