The bosses of the French Communist Party and the National Rally walked the aisles of the livestock fair near Clermont-Ferrand on Thursday. Both claim a close link with farmers.
Fabien Roussel gets his hands on the agricultural issue, literally: he grabs the buttocks of a Limousin cow. “If we can get through, that means the meat is good. If we can’t get through, that means it’s hard, it’s not good.” launches the communist leader, Thursday October 5, at the livestock summit in Cournon-d’Auvergne near Clermont-Ferrand, where political figures parade, as during the Agricultural Show.
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The campaign for the European elections has already started, with this first round. Coincidentally with the calendar, Fabien Roussel was present at the show on the same day as Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally list in the European vote, with a distance fight between the two men.
No handshake
The head of the French Communist Party wants to speak the same language, without fuss, to move forward on ideas and fight the RN which is making progress among farmers. “The National Front [aujourd’hui Rassemblement national] is for leaving the European Union, recalls Fabien Roussel. The consequences are that the EU will reduce its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget. We want more PACs. I keep saying it at all the stands: they are liars, charlatans, who have double talk which deceives the agricultural world.”
A few aisles further, Jordan Bardella, the boss of the RN, however, assures that he does not want to leave Europe and responds. “It’s all well and good to eat meat, but Mr. Roussel is allied in the National Assembly with Europe-Eecology the Greens, within the Nupes, who are waging a war on our farmers, on our agriculture, who support eco-terrorism and small violent groups who physically attack our breeders. Mr. Roussel should be a little coherent.”
There was no handshake between the two men. The communist even turns back when he learns of the presence of Marine Le Pen’s protégé on the next stand.