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Update
The franceinfo Talk on Wednesday January 31 looks at the actions and announcements of Gabriel Attal’s government to respond to the anger of farmers, a mobilization which could extend to other sectors. Ludo Pauchant receives political scientist Benjamin Morel, Jean-François Amadieu, specialist in social movements and Paul Barcelonne, journalist in the political department of franceinfo.
While the farmers expressed their anger across France for a week, the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, went to a farm in Haute-Garonne Friday January 26, to try to bring calm to the agricultural crisis.
Announcements from the Prime Minister…
For appease the farmersGabriel Attal assured that the anger of the agricultural world had been heard by his government. “We decided to put agriculture above everything else” expressed the Prime Minister.
Among the measures announced, that of a simplification of standards, with “ten immediate simplification measures” for farmers. For example, among these measures is “end of the exceptional regime for appeal deadlines against agricultural projects”, the removal of a level of jurisdiction as well as the simplification of cleaning of agricultural watercourses.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister expressed his “lucidity” estimating that the Egalim laws, supposed to give them purchasing power, are not protective enough for farmers. The latter announced the strengthening of DGCCRF controls.
Gabriel Attal also announced the end of the planned increase in the tax on GNR (non-road gas), which is used as fuel on thousands of farms. A measure which was eagerly awaited by farmers. This tax increase was to increase by 2.85 cents per liter per year until 2030.
…considered insufficient by some farmers
After the Prime Minister’s announcements, the opinions are divided within the agricultural world. Yet a symbol of the movement, the roadblock on the A64 in Haute-Garonne was dismantled on the morning of Saturday September 27, the demonstrators being for the most part satisfied with the responses provided by the government.
Following new announcements for agriculture by Gabriel Attal during his general policy declaration to the National Assemblyother farmers refuse to end the mobilization. This will now focus on large cities in France and major roads.