French farmers are threatening to wreak havoc on the country in the latest round of protests.
Farmers have voiced their anger with a blockade near Paris in response to the government’s proposed free trade agreement with a number of other protests set around France.
Farmers began to form a procession near Villacoublay air base located near Paris as early as Sunday evening on November 17 using their tractors to block off the road.
The FNSEA-JA majority union alliance have stated that these blockades will be a series of agricultural protests in response to a possible signing of a trade deal between the European Union and four South American countries which farmers fear will ruin their livelihoods.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has warned there will be “zero tolerance” when it comes to “lasting blockades” of major French roads from protesters.
However, other farming unions are rumoured to be undertaking more direct action which will include roadblocks and bridge blockades.
Protesting farmers had blocked two of the three lanes of traffic on the N118 with their tractors on Sunday evening spending the evening there, with many of them still present on Monday morning
These protests echoed previous widespread anger less than a year ago which also saw several sections of motorways in the French countryside being blocked off.
The southern town of Avignon also saw tractors blocking the Pont de l’Europe – one of the main entry points to the town.
These recent protests further indicate the farmers unions are once again calling on their troops to demonstrate, as the run-up to their professional elections begins in January.
These protests also coincide with talks in its final stages regarding the EU’s proposed Mercosur deal which will look to facilitate trade between Europe and South America with further aims of reducing customs duties on trade between the two blocs.
Hopes this trade deal will help boost exports of European goods currently facing high tariffs has called for the EU to back it but farmers in France argue it will have a dire effect on the beef and poultry sectors.
French president Emmanuel Macron recently pledged to “continue to oppose” the Mercosur deal despite the EU’s strong backing with Spain and Germany also pushing for its deal.
FNSEA boss Arnaud Rousseau spoke on BFMTV on November 17 outlining what will be in store in the next coming days regarding protests and explained there will be “82 actions listed, mainly in prefectures and sub-prefectures” which “will take place this afternoon, Monday or even Tuesday”.
Motorways, trunk roads and departmental roads will be involved in these protests with motorists advised to avoid these affected areas.
FNSEA President Arnaud Rousseau looks to target avenues, and in particular the avenues and roundabouts causing “traffic restrictions” but added that no blockades were planned.
From Monday onwards, rallies are planned by the FNSEA and its allies in the Young Farmers’ movement across France.
In the Bas-Rhin region, disruption is expected on the roads; farmers are expected to leave their farms at midday, according to France Bleu, moving on to the Pont de l’Europe in Strasbourg, which they will blockade for part of the afternoon and evening.
In the Hérault, Gard, Aveyron and Tarn-et-Garonne regions, angry farmers will be setting their sights on the roundabouts with several meetings already being scheduled for the morning of 18 November, to gather as many tractors as possible.
The Coordination rurale’s, known for its yellow hats and right-wing stance, president Véronique Le Floc’h warned if their demands go unanswered by November 29 food freights will be blocked with the aim to target supermarket logistics centres.
