Agricultural Show in France: tensions between the executive and the farming world
Controversy in France on the eve of the agricultural show: French President Emmanuel Macron wants to organize a debate with the agricultural world.
The FNSEA union assures that it will not participate in the debate: the main French agricultural union did not appreciate the invitation made to the environmentalist organization Les Soulèvement de la terre.
The president has understood nothing about the problems of farmers, believes the president of the FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau.
The French government canceled its invitation to the environmentalist organization.
French farmers on the Mirabeau bridge in Paris, before the opening of the 60th International Agricultural Show, February 23, 2024. AFP - MIGUEL MEDINA
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The Élysée pleads guilty.
The presidency admits “
an error
” in communication after mentioning an invitation from the group The Uprising of the Earth to the debate organized at the opening of the
Agricultural Show
.
This caused incomprehension.
The damage is done, for the boss of the FNSEA: “
Politics is something other than communication or shows.
And at the moment we are in, (this invitation, editor’s note) sends the image back to farmers that ultimately nothing has been understood about their problems
.”
“
I will not be the actor in something that I consider particularly cynical and which does not allow dialogue in good conditions
,” criticized the president of the FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau on BFM TV/RMC this Friday, February 23, refusing to take part in the debate.
Also read: The Earth Uprisings, a disturbing environmental movement
The invitation launched to the Earth Uprisings, although described as eco-terrorists by the Minister of the Interior last year, arouses incomprehension even within the government.
The Minister of Agriculture dissociates himself from the Élysée, describing the invitation as inappropriate.
Marc Fesneau estimated, on TF1, that Les Uprisings of the Earth constitute “
a collective whose model of expression is rather the molotov cocktail.
So, we don’t discuss with these people
.”
However, he still says he hopes that the debate can take place tomorrow.
If the president's idea was, as after the "yellow vest" crisis, to appease the anger of the
agricultural world
with discussions lasting several hours and in front of the cameras, then it was a failure.
What value should be attributed to a debate without the majority farmers' union?
What will be the tone with the most radical representatives of the peasant world such as those of the Rural Coordination?
They have not given up coming.
Read alsoFrance: Gabriel Attal gives pledges to farmers before the Agricultural Show
In fact, in recent weeks, the anger of farmers has been expressed in France, but also in many European countries, with demonstrations and blockades on major roads.
They are demanding higher incomes and better working conditions.
Around fifty tractors took part this Friday, February 23, in a snail operation on the Paris ring road.
(
With AFP
)
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