Report
Agricultural fair: the obligatory passage of the candidates for the French presidential election
Audio 01:19
The 58th edition of the International Agricultural Show, Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles in Paris.
AFP - GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
The Agricultural Show is looking grim this year, particularly because of the war in Ukraine.
Result, the candidates follow one another to try to reassure the farmers and in particular on the left where one counts on the crisis to make forget the mutual mistrust with the peasant world.
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Report door of Versailles in Paris
,
Aurélien Devernois and Lucile Gimberg
Between two cows and a cheese platter, Anne Hidalgo obviously noticed the concerned looks of the peasants.
This is not the time for optimism in the spans of the agricultural show.
So the socialist candidate is playing the appeasement card.
No more question of criticizing the agricultural world and its intensive production model: "
The left that I embody will carry this message, in opposition to this 'agribashing' that we can no longer bear
".
For Anne Hidalgo, the urgency is to lighten the burden on farmers in these times of crisis: "
We have to play from the VAT to contain the increase in the prices of gasoline, energy , electricity
”.
Counter the soaring prices of energy, but also of cereals, while Russia and Ukraine are among the world's largest producers of wheat.
A little further on, the communist candidate Fabien Roussel has an idea: "
I ask that the government quickly initiate a national conference to ensure security in terms of cereals but also in terms of the price of livestock feed" .
Unconditional support not without political ulterior motives: Fabien Roussel, like Anne Hidalgo, also intends to mark his difference with the great rival on the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, absent from the agricultural show this year.
► To read also: Is French agriculture still a geopolitical weapon?
Valérie Pécresse was also at Porte de Versailles on February 28.
The right-wing candidate did not deny the strong consequences it could have for farmers.
“
We import a lot
, indeed warned, candidate LR in an interview on a specialized channel at the show.
Ukraine and Russia are two major agricultural countries.
Personally, what I want is for the European Union to put in place a shield to protect our farmers.
The question raised by this crisis is that of our European sovereignty.
Are we dependent on certain countries for our supplies or can we produce in Europe the basic necessities that are essential to us.
This question will arise acutely in the coming months.
And we are going to have to take measures to ensure the agricultural independence of Europe.
Feeding its people is obviously the first thing that a state, a continent, must do.
This is the first thing the European Union must do”.
Produce more in Europe, increase farmers' incomes and promote transmission.
Over the stands, Valérie Pécresse also distils her objectives for French farmers, an essential electorate for the right, on which the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is also eyeing.
► To read also: The 2022 Agricultural Show opens in Paris after two years of absence
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France
Agriculture and Fishing
Presidential France 2022
Anne Hidalgo
Fabien Roussel
Valerie Pécresse
French politics
Ukraine