Emmanuel Macron will debate with players in the sector on Saturday, the Elysée renounces inviting the Earth Uprisings

The 2024 edition of “the largest farm in France” opens its doors, while farmers have been showing their anger for several weeks.

A debate with (almost) all the actors. Emmanuel Macron will take advantage of the inauguration of the Agricultural Show, Saturday February 24, to debate with the players in a sector in the midst of a crisis. The Head of State will thus meet with farmers, their unions but also representatives of mass distribution and associations, France Télévisions learned from the Elysée on Thursday February 22.

Initially invited, the Earth Uprisings are no longer invited, the Elysée announced in the evening, after the president of the FNSEA described the presence of the environmental association as “unacceptable provocation for farmers.” “I agreed to participate in a debate. In these conditions, I refuse to take part in what will only be a charade.” Arnaud Rousseau tweeted, earlier in the evening, calling the environmental movement “small group”.

Several hundred people are expected, including representatives of the main agricultural unions (FNSEA, Young Farmers, Rural Coordination, Peasant Confederation, etc.), large retailers (Lidl, Leclerc, etc.) and manufacturers such as the food processor Bigard meat. Leaders of environmental associations are also invited, added the Elysée, such as the Climate Action and Future Generations Network.

Unions want to “keep up the pressure”

Emmanuel Macron must stay at least two hours in the aisles of the Porte de Versailles. It is an understatement to say that it is eagerly awaited by farmers. After almost a month of negotiations with the government, Rémi Dumas, vice-president of Young Farmers, recognizes “advances” in the discussions but “The account is not completely there and that is why we must maintain the pressure.”

Less than four months before the European elections, all political parties have ticked the Show off their agenda. Agricultural issues have become a real campaign theme after the demonstrations which took place in France and throughout Europe. Several heads of the list have planned to make the trip to “the largest farm in France”.