Angry French farmers cause chaos and argue with Macron at an agricultural fair
French President Emmanuel Macron was received with protest this Saturday (24) at an agricultural fair in Paris. Producers are putting pressure on the government to help them as they are unhappy with costs, bureaucracy and environmental regulations.
In addition to Macron, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Agnes PannierRunacher spoke to French farmers on the opening day of the 60th international edition of the Salon de l'August. Agriculture.
The demonstrators were guarded by dozens of police officers. The farmers shouted and booed, demanded the resignation of the French president and used insults aimed at him. At least one person was arrested, according to Portal.
1 of 4 French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Agnes PannierRunacher speak to French farmers on the opening day of the 60th International Agricultural Fair in Paris Photo: Ludovic Marin/Pool via Portal French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Agnes PannierRunacher speak to French farmers on the opening day of the 60th International Agricultural Fair in Paris Photo: Ludovic Marin/ Pool via Portal
Macron met with leaders of the French farmers' union over breakfast and was then expected to walk through the streets of the fair. “This is what I say to all farmers: you are not helping any of your colleagues by destroying stands, you are not helping any of your colleagues by making the fair impossible and in some ways intimidating families not to attend,” he said.
2 of 4 French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to an agricultural fair in Paris was marked by protests from rural producers Photo: Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to an agricultural fair in Paris was marked by protests from rural producers Photo : Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP
The French president said he would hold a meeting with representatives of farmers' unions and other interested parties within three weeks and canceled a debate he planned to hold at the fair with farmers and food processors.
The opening of the event was delayed by more than an hour. The Paris agricultural fair attracts around 600,000 visitors over nine days.
3 of 4 demonstrators clash with police during Macron's visit to an agricultural fair in Paris Photo: Lewis Joly/AP Photo Protesters clash with police during Macron's visit to an agricultural fair in Paris Photo: Lewis Joly /AP Photo
Farmers took to the streets in Paris on Friday (23) to warn Emmanuel Macron that he should expect a “harsh reception” at the opening of the agricultural fair. In another protest of this category, dozens of tractors drove into the French capital honking.
A tractor carried a sign that read: “Macron, you are sowing the seeds of a storm be careful what you reap.”
French farmers had suspended their protests including blocking highways and dumping manure in front of public buildings after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised new measures worth 400 million euros.
4 of 4 French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Agnes PannierRunacher speak to French farmers on the opening day of the 60th International Agricultural Fair in Paris Photo: Ludovic Marin/Pool via Portal French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Agnes PannierRunacher speak to French farmers on the opening day of the 60th International Agricultural Fair in Paris Photo: Ludovic Marin/ Pool via Portal
The case is not an isolated one, as farmers across Europe are protesting for higher incomes, less bureaucracy and denouncing unfair competition from cheap Ukrainian products due to Ukraine's war aid.
Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic also announced demonstrations. Looking ahead to the European Parliament elections in June, the main beneficiaries are the farright parties, where farmers make up a growing electorate.
* With information from Portal