blockages still in progress around Toulouse, other gatherings elsewhere in France

After meetings with the prefects during the weekend, and before a meeting with Gabriel Attal, the farmers continue their mobilization on Monday.

The cloud of smoke can be seen several hundred meters away. After meetings with prefects during the weekend, farmers continued their mobilization on Monday January 22 with expanding actions. In Haute-Garonne, a portion of the A64 motorway is still blocked at Carbonne, between Toulouse and Saint-Gaudens. Farmers denounce financial burdens that are too heavy and environmental standards considered too restrictive.

Around ten farmers slept there for the fourth consecutive night, noted the Radio France journalist present on site. The wall of straw bales which blocked the road was also set on fire in the early morning, the farmers recall:a malicious act“and say to each other”even more determined“.

Still on the A64, a blockage is also maintained in the Hautes-Pyrénées near Tarbes, reports France Bleu Occitanie. The A62 motorway west of Montauban is also blocked in Tarn-et-Garonne. And, according to the prefecture, “slowdowns are underway” on the A 20, also close to Montauban, “in both directions of traffic”. In the Gers, the RN124, which links Toulouse to Auch, is still blocked at Pujaudran, west of Toulouse, according to France Bleu.

The mobilization also extends to other regions of the country. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, around a hundred farmers with around fifty tractors are blocking a toll gate south of Perpignan, noted a journalist from France Beu Roussillon. A demonstration is also being held in Lauterbourg (Bas-Rhin), in the north of Alsace, close to the border with Germany, reports France Bleu Alsace. Monday morning, the president of the FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau, promised “actions all week and as long as necessary”.

“The pact of trust with the government is broken”

“The pact of trust with the government is broken” estimates Pierrick Horel, secretary general of Young Farmers, on franceinfo on Monday. He will be received at 6 p.m. by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, with the agricultural union FNSEA. He returned to the feeling which has been driving the agricultural world in recent times: “it’s a general disappointment. The feeling is that the pact of trust with the government is broken“, affirms Pierrick Horel, “we had major announcements, ‘at the same time’ from the government, which explained to us that we had to progress very quickly, but without resources on the environmental issue or the energy transition“.

The lack of “real vision or financial support” come “crystallize a discontent which is exploding today in the territory and in the countryside“, analyzes the general secretary of Young Farmers. Remuneration, environmental standards considered too restrictive, end of tax reductions on non-road diesel… The problems are numerous, and they can “be managed if we have sufficient income from our farms, but this is no longer the case“, he believes.

The government announced the postponement of the bill, initially planned for Wednesday, which must provide simplifications in order to be able to make modifications. This will “in the right direction“, judge Pierrick Horel but “what was heard by farmers a few months ago, requires much more effort from the government today because the signals sent have been too bad for too long“.