Ah, the French and their love for tractors! Who knew that farming could be such a thrilling spectacle? By the looks of it, when Macron heads to Rio, he’ll be making more headlines with hillbilly protests and tractor blocks than he might hope for at a G20 summit! Let’s unpack this delightful madness, shall we?
Tractors and Tension: A Rolling Protest!
Picture this: twenty tractors and thirty other vehicles stopping traffic on the national 118, sending the French public into a mild state of chaos. It’s a scene typically reserved for a Hollywood disaster movie—though with less CGI and a lot more manure. The farmers are out in full force, showing that, while Macron was off flying to Argentina, they were just trying to get their “farmers’ market” message across, tractor-style.
Our favourite cereal and beet producer, Romain Garnier, was not having any of it. “Stop Mercosur, it makes you deaf!” he proclaimed, sign in hand, clearly taking a hearty jab at the president’s selective hearing when it comes to farmer grievances. Who knew that crop dusting and protesting could blend into one touching love story of rebellion against the bureaucracy?
And let’s talk about the Mercosur agreement for a second, shall we? It should come with a warning label: “May contain high levels of agricultural anxiety.” Romain and his fellow farmers are terrified that this agreement is like introducing a wolf into a hen house—except in this case, the hen house is actually the French agricultural sector, and the wolf is, quite literally, free trade.
Macron, if you go to Rio, don’t forget your pecnos! No to MERCOSUR! #Mercosur #AngryFarmers #onmarchesurlatete pic.twitter.com/GmGI7Q6EfX
The Politicians Join the Farmyard Fiesta
And just when you thought it couldn’t get more entertaining, in strutted Valérie Pécresse, the president of the Île-de-France region, showing solidarity with the farmers. With a promise to keep politics “real” and to back their demands, it was like watching an episode of rural “Survivor,” where only the most committed farmer-politician alliances can weather the storm.
They even brought out big guns like Michel Barnier! Yes, the former Minister of Agriculture is stepping in, likely to remind everyone that he too knows a thing or two about crop rotation. Could this be the plot twist where the farmers are given political reinforcements from former agricultural heavyweights? I’m getting popcorn for that upcoming episode!
🚜 Tonight alongside farmers at #Vélizy to reiterate to them all our support, and our refusal of the EU-Mercosur agreement which puts unbearable pressure on them. I will always be by their side. pic.twitter.com/uUkdrpXq8t
Where’s the Beef? And Sugar? And Chicken?!
As the plot thickens with vegan-friendly twists, the EU is thinking of signing this agreement faster than you can say “French fries.” Get this: Latin American countries could soon be sending beef, chicken, and sugar our way without much in the form of custom duties. And you thought your butcher had it tough! If you think your grocery bills are high now, just wait for the Mercosur effect, folks! Talk about going from organic, locally-sourced produce to a taste of Big Agriculture—no thanks!
Damien Radet, not just content being a farmer but a poetic one at that, likened the situation to “running with a ball and chain on our feet.” A quintessential image, wouldn’t you agree? Who knew farming would require so much mental gymnastics! But hey, some say that’s how you grow thick skin in the agricultural world. And here we thought it was just all about rain, sunshine, and good old-fashioned hard work.
Time to Raise the Stakes!
So what’s next? The farmers are back in their tractors, revved up and ready to kick-start a social fight for equitable food standards. Samuel Vandaele is advocating that agriculture and food should be seen for their true worth—like a finely aged cheese at a Parisian market—and not just as another item on a global trade list.
As we venture into this new cycle of mobilization, one thing is for sure: the farmers aren’t about to let their voices be drowned out—at least not without a tractor parade. Pour yourself a glass of wine; it could be a long ride ahead for Macron and his hillbilly fans back at home.
AFP is certainly getting their money’s worth with this dramatic buildup. A toast to French agriculture and the fun—albeit bumpy—ride ahead!
“Macron, if you head to Rio, be sure to bring your hillbillies”: a convoy of approximately twenty tractors and thirty other vehicles formed a blockade, effectively obstructing two out of the three lanes of traffic on the national 118 road, strategically located next to the Yvelines military base.
Came by tractor
It was from this very air base that President Emmanuel Macron took off for Argentina on Saturday, with plans to attend the G20 summit set for Monday and Tuesday in Brazil. Many of the farmers who made the journey on tractors intended to camp out overnight, highlighting their dedication to the cause.
Macron, if you go to Rio, don’t forget your pecnos! No to MERCOSUR! #Mercosur #AngryFarmers #onmarchesurlatete pic.twitter.com/GmGI7Q6EfX
— JA ILE DE FRANCE (@JA_IDF) November 17, 2024
“I oppose the Mercosur agreement as it threatens us as producers, and it could also harm consumers,” articulated Romain Garnier, a dedicated cereal and beet producer from Val-d’Oise. Displaying a sign that read “Manu, stop Mercosur, it makes you deaf,” he emphasized the urgency of the situation. “It’s going to be a very tough fight,” he added.
“Last year we occupied the A1 motorway for a week; we are hopeful for similar mobilizations this time,” he declared, eyeing the large police presence monitoring the procession, indicating the contentious nature of their demonstrations.
Before embarking on his flight to the G20 in Rio, President Emmanuel Macron reiterated in Buenos Aires that France would not “sign as it stands” the free trade treaty between the European Union and Mercosur, vowing to “continue” to oppose it in the interests of the French agricultural community.
Valérie Pécresse on site
“Politics requires honoring commitments; the government must uphold its promises,” asserted Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region, who attended to lend her support to the farmers. She sought to reassure attendees, noting that Prime Minister “Michel Barnier was a distinguished Minister of Agriculture” and possesses deep knowledge of agricultural issues.
🚜 Tonight alongside farmers at #Vélizy to reiterate to them all our support, and our refusal of the EU-Mercosur agreement which puts unbearable pressure on them. I will always be by their side. pic.twitter.com/uUkdrpXq8t
— Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) November 17, 2024
Despite the considerable opposition from both political leaders and agricultural stakeholders in France, the European Union appears resolute in finalizing this trade agreement by year-end, allowing Latin American countries to export increased volumes of beef, chicken, and sugar to Europe without incurring customs tariffs.
“We are being thrust into a world of free trade and must compete under the same rules; otherwise, we are at risk of extinction,” lamented Damien Radet, the secretary general of the FDSEA (departmental federation of farmers’ unions) for Île-de-France, who was present in Vélizy-Villacoublay. “It feels as if we are running a race with a ball and chain attached,” he illustrated poignantly, indicating the expected longevity of this grassroots movement.
“The pressure restarts”
“Tonight marks a new phase of pressure on the government,” proclaimed Samuel Vandaele, general secretary of the FDSEA in Seine-et-Marne, stressing the importance of valuing agriculture and food appropriately. The dominant FNSEA-Young Farmers union alliance is slated to officially commence this latest wave of mobilization on Monday with planned rallies and symbolic demonstrations.
“This is also a social struggle to ensure that everyone in this country can have access to quality food, featuring healthy products, while advocating for equitable standards and regulations from both the government and Europe that don’t disproportionately burden us, the French farmers,” articulated Damien Greffin, vice-president of the FNSEA, upon joining the rally.
AFP
– What are the main concerns of French farmers regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement?
The ongoing tensions between French farmers and the government’s agricultural policies have manifested in dramatic demonstrations, with farmers expressing their frustrations particularly regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. As farmers took to the streets—or should we say fields—in their tractors, the scene resembled a rural reality show where alliances and betrayals play out for all to see.
Among those who joined the protesters is Valérie Pécresse, the President of the Île-de-France region, who pledged her support and emphasized the importance of maintaining political commitments. She also spotlighted the involvement of Michel Barnier, the former Minister of Agriculture, adding a layer of political heft to the farmers’ cause. This backdrop of political engagement provides a unique twist as both farmers and politicians navigate the complexities of agricultural needs versus global trade demands.
The farmers’ grievances are not merely political theater. With the potential signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement, Latin American countries could flood the European market with beef, sugar, and chicken without hefty customs duties, jeopardizing local agriculture. This scenario has led to vivid imagery from farmers like Damien Radet, who poetically described their burden as “running with a ball and chain on our feet.”
Samuel Vandaele, a passionate advocate for the agriculture sector, argues that food production should be valued beyond mere trade numbers, akin to fine wines in a Parisian market. As farmers take a stand, traffic-blocking tractor convoys make headlines, and their commitment to this fight is clear—many even plan to camp out overnight beside their heavy machinery.
Despite Emmanuel Macron’s recent reassurances that France wouldn’t sign the trade treaty as it stands, farmers remain skeptical as they mobilize for future protests. With tensions high and stakes raised, observers are left eager to see how this agricultural saga unfolds, knowing that for now, the farmers’ voices will not be silenced without a fight—or a tractor parade!
As we toast to French agriculture, it certainly seems the road ahead will be bumpy, full of unexpected twists, and laden with the resilience of those who feed the nation.