Alexis Bourdon / Photo credits: Valentin Izzo / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 11:00 a.m., February 5, 2024

A few days after the blockades were lifted, farmers are considering what follow-up to the movement. Back in Agen, one of the cradles of the movement, the farmers are waiting for Gabriel Attal around the corner and will not hesitate to go back to Paris if necessary. 

What remains of the mobilization of the agricultural world? A few days after the government's latest announcements and the end of the vast majority of blockages, in Lot-et-Garonne, the cradle of the movement, farmers intend to continue the fight. A group of farmers from the region had tried to reach Rungis, without success for many of them. 

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“I don’t think we’ll be going back to Paris by tractor anytime soon”

Back home, Serge Bousquet-Cassagne sets the tone: “It was only the beginning,” assures the president of the Lot-et-Garonne Chamber of Agriculture, arriving with fanfare with around fifty tractors on Saturday evening in Agen.

“It’s the movement that will lead us to closely monitor the administration, the prefects, and it’s Gabriel Attal who says so. I don’t think we’ll be going back to Paris by tractor anytime soon,” insists -he. “On the other hand, we are able to get on there with entire buses and move them remarkably well,” continues Serge Bousquet-Cassagne. 

First assessment of the demonstrations

Before arriving at a new journey to Paris, actions began locally. José Perez, another figure in the protest movement, does not intend to be satisfied with the Prime Minister's announcements. "We started going to the supermarkets, we started checking the trucks and we will continue. We will come back to the supermarkets, we will check the trucks on the highways. This has to change. We can no longer continue like this." the farmer is alarmed. 

The Lot-et-Garonne Rural Coordination will meet in a general assembly next Friday to make an initial assessment of these historic events in the agricultural world. One thing is certain for these farmers, there will be a before and after mobilization.