Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: LOIC VENANCE / AFP 4:16 p.m., February 23, 2024

Emmanuel Macron wanted to organize a major debate on Saturday morning at the Salon de l'Agriculture with the main representatives of the sector, a project which is becoming complicated.

“No representative” of the FNSEA will participate, announced the president of the agricultural union.

The Rural Coordination has also announced that it will not send any national representative. 

"No representative" of the FNSEA will participate on Saturday morning in the debate desired by Emmanuel Macron at the opening of the Agricultural Show, announced Friday the president of the majority agricultural union, Arnaud Rousseau, who is calling for the cancellation of this debate.

The two main unions will not send any representatives 

"The conditions for a more peaceful dialogue are not met and the dignity of farmers is flouted by this approach which bears the hallmark of provocation. In this climate of exasperation, and faced with the risk of excess, we ask not to hold this debate", indicated Arnaud Rousseau on X, following a meeting of the FNSEA board of directors.

The union is protesting against the initial announcement by the Élysée that the Uprisings of the Earth were invited to this debate scheduled for Saturday.

The presidency finally indicated that the environmentalist collective was not invited and that the announcement had been an error.

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For its part, Rural Coordination (CR), the second union representing French farmers, told AFP that it would not send a national representative to the debate, but that local officials planned to attend.

“Several members of the Rural Coordination will be there”, including Karine Duc, co-president of the CR Lot-et-Garonne who met Emmanuel Macron last week, indicated the president of the union, Véronique Le Floc'h.