Alexis Bourdon // Photo credits: Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP 9:14 a.m., January 29, 2024
The farmers made it clear that they were ready for anything and would not give up. They were not satisfied by Gabriel Attal's announcements last Friday, and therefore intend to blockade the capital from 2 p.m. this Monday. For the Ministry of the Interior, there is no question of the tractors returning to the capital.
A red line for the government. Faced with the discontent of farmers, and their ambition to surround Paris, the Minister of the Interior declared that there was no question of tractors entering the capital. Gérald Darmanin mobilizes 15,000 police officers, gendarmes, armored vehicles and helicopters to protect Paris and major cities. For José Perez, co-president of the Lot-et-Garonne Rural Coordination, it's a race against the clock. He refines the last details with the other members of the office by videoconference before the big departure. The bakeries of Agen and Marmande will supply several hundred pastries to farmers.
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Bring together as many farmers as possible
The objective for the co-president of the Lot-et-Garonne Rural Coordination is to bring together as many farmers as possible to reach the capital. “I call on all people, all farmers to come and join us on the sides of the highways. The starting points are Agen and Marmande and the arrival point is Rungis,” reported José Perez on Europe 1.
A destination that owes nothing to chance. "Everything leaves Rungis, a lot of products leave Rungis. Going to block the capital, apart from annoying the citizens, is of no use. Everyone in Rungis on Tuesday, let's block the purchasing centers, let's block the important buildings and there, we will be heard,” adds José Perez. Around a hundred tractors should depart from Agen and the journey could take 30 hours to reach Rungis.