French agricultural unions are intensifying protests against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and the recent resignation of the Barnier government. Farmers have targeted the offices of local deputies, including former President François Hollande, expressing their discontent over perceived betrayals. The FNSEA and Young Farmers alliance are planning further demonstrations, demanding accountability and opposing the agreement’s potential impact on European farmers. Calls for action include a refusal of administrative inspections until promised reforms are fulfilled.
French agricultural unions are taking a stand following the recent EU-Mercosur free trade agreement and a government vacancy in Paris. Their actions have intensified, with a focus on local deputies’ offices, including that of former President François Hollande.
On Friday evening, farmers took direct action by bricking up the parliamentary office of Hollande in Tulle, protesting his support for a motion of censure against the Barnier government.
Emmanuel Lissajoux, president of the FNSEA’s departmental branch, expressed strong sentiments, stating, “If he does not want to represent his farmers and his territory, he doesn’t need an office in Corrèze.” He believes that the government’s downfall will hinder the progress made for farmers.
The announcement from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the agreement with Mercosur has further fueled the anger among farmers.
The FNSEA-Young Farmers (JA) alliance criticized the deal as a “betrayal.” Copa-Cogeca, the leading European agricultural lobby, described it as sending a “catastrophic message to millions of European farmers,” and announced a “flash action” scheduled for Monday in Brussels.
This agreement, which proposes reduced or zero import quotas for products like beef, chicken, and sugar, still awaits ratification from member states. The French presidency responded, noting that it remains “unacceptable as it stands” and stressing that it is “neither signed nor ratified,” indicating that further discussions are necessary.
The opposition to this treaty has garnered support from a wide array of European agricultural unions.
Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Farmers’ Union, remarked, “This agreement is made unilaterally to the detriment of European farmers and significantly undermines our farms against competition.”
In France, the agreement faces unanimous disapproval from various organizations, which are also preparing for the upcoming agricultural chamber elections.
Since mid-November, French farmers have ramped up protests, following a historic mobilization last year that led to various government promises, including emergency aid and reduced charges.
Demanding Accountability
Following the resignation of the Barnier government on Wednesday, which was addressing several of these promises, the mobilization evolved.
Quentin Le Guillous, the secretary general of Young Farmers (JA), indicated that actions would escalate, stating, “With the censure of the government and Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Uruguay, actions will harden,” even before the Mercosur agreement was announced.
The FNSEA-JA alliance is organizing a third wave of protests on December 9 and 10, focusing on securing better income through initiatives in supermarkets.
Le Guillous urged, “We call on all deputies to demand accountability” following the government’s censure.
On Thursday evening, farmers targeted the offices of elected officials in New Aquitaine who supported the motion of censure, including bricking up the offices of LFI deputies Damien Maudet and Manon Meunier in Limoges, and later proceeding to socialist Stéphane Delautrette’s office in Nexon.
Moreover, in Charente-Maritime, the offices of Fabrice Barusseau (NFP) in Saintes, Benoît Biteau (Greens-NFP) in Rochefort, and Pascal Markowsky (RN) in Royan faced vandalism, including waste spillage and the use of expanding foam to seal entrances, as reported by the prefecture.
Refusal of Inspections
As the censure unfolded, FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau announced that farmers would no longer accept administrative inspections on their farms until promised reforms were enacted.
Local FNSEA-JA branches are echoing this demand.
While advocating for the preservation of environmental standards and controls, the Confédération paysanne also opposes the Mercosur agreement and is calling for protests outside prefectures, including an event in Figeac on Saturday.
Additionally, the union denounced the detention of five of its members in Paris, arrested during a protest against free trade and speculation in agricultural products, coinciding with a meeting of major grain trading operators. The union criticized the “double standard” that emerges when agricultural organizations challenge the financial sector instead of addressing public institutions directly.