This is called a backlash.
Angry after the announcement of the invitation of the Uprisings of the Earth to a major debate that Emmanuel Macron wanted to organize at the Agricultural Show, the farmers reserved a particularly angry welcoming committee, Saturday February 24, for the president of the Republic.
Shortly before 8 a.m., several dozen farmers from Rural Coordination (CR), FNSEA and Young Farmers (JA) came running after having forced the main entrance to the Exhibition Center to enter Hall 1, where Emmanuel Macron was expected.
The security service was quickly overwhelmed and the morning stroll as the Élysée had imagined it was canceled.
Also read: Emmanuel Macron facing farmers: how to bring together contradictory interests?
"Here we are at home! We are going to physically remove Macron from the Salon", announce the leaders of the procession, while the CRS establish a security cordon around the perimeter where the head of state has recently arrived, who is talks in a separate room with representatives of agricultural unions over breakfast.
Arnaud Rousseau (FNSEA), Arnaud Gaillot (JA), Véronique Le Floc'h (CR) and Laurence Marendola (spokesperson for the Confédération paysanne) are notably present.
The most angry farmers from the Rural Coordination (yellow hats and caps) or the FNSEA (green caps) intend to “physically remove Macron from the show” and regularly chant “Macron resignation” #SalonDeLagriculture #SIA2024 #macrondemission pic.twitter.com /4iE3dDFpFw
— Romain Brunet (@romain2dc) February 24, 2024
But the latter seem overwhelmed by their base.
Observing from a little further away the face to face between the police and his fellow farmers, Gérard, a dairy producer from Doubs, shares the frustration and incomprehension expressed.
"Such an error is unacceptable! The government has been trying to defuse the situation for three weeks and Macron throws this bombshell at us just before the opening of the show? We feel it like a break," he explains.
Denied the day before by the presidency, which cited a communication error to justify itself, the Earth Uprisings invitation is on everyone's minds and comes up repeatedly in the farmers' speeches.
The environmental association is in fact considered by many operators as an enemy.
They criticize him for his actions against pesticides and water retention basins, perceived as attacks on the interests of farmers.
For its part, the movement denies harming the rural economy, its demands relating above all to the income and cash flow of large agro-industrial groups.
A dialogue with farmers broadcast live
"We are working at a loss! I earn 300 euros in salary and during this time, Macron distributes money from France to Ukraine", complains Étienne, a pig breeder, while "gravediggers of France" and “Macron resign” are chanted around him and eggs are flying in the direction of the CRS.
Shortly after 9 a.m., a small group decided to force part of the roadblock to attack the European Union stand.
The rush lasts a few minutes.
A wall of the stand is knocked down.
A plant pot falls.
Earth remains on the ground, the only trace of a brief but lively confrontation foreshadowing an inauguration of the Agricultural Show like no other.
🚜🇫🇷 FLASH - Chaotic scenes at the #SalonDeLagriculture.
Farmers charge the police to try to get closer to Emmanuel Macron, who is walking around under very high security.
(via @RemyBuisine) pic.twitter.com/1gAoR4qP7J
— Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) February 24, 2024
The security system is also very unusual, almost doubled compared to the previous edition with nearly 1,000 police officers mobilized.
“I have already been to quite a few agricultural exhibitions and this is the first time that I have seen so many CRS”, testifies an exhibitor, also fearing that the doors will remain closed to the public for the day, or less as long as the president is present.
As time passes, the anger does not weaken and wandering the aisles of the Salon seems more and more called into question.
Emmanuel Macron then decides to improvise.
After the discussion with the union representatives, he proposed a dialogue to a group of farmers authorized to approach him.
Some wear the yellow cap of the Rural Coordination, others the green cap of the majority FNSEA union and still others the red cap of the Young Farmers.
Deprived of the staging he had imagined on a "ring" alongside producers, industrialists, distributors and environmental defenders for his great debate, the head of state finally obtains what he was looking for: a frank exchange with the farmers, in front of the cameras.
The two hours of discussion are broadcast on continuous news channels, but also on the official X account of the Élysée.
In shirt sleeves, Emmanuel Macron listens to the reproaches, accepts the criticism and responds by speaking informally to his interlocutors.
"The commitments are there. I'm telling you all, we're not going to give up," he says to convince them of his good faith and determination.
“All he says is wind”
But if he manages to appease the farmers who have gone upstairs for the duration of this exchange, the hundreds of others remaining on the ground floor are still waiting for him and are not letting up.
“It’s still a publicity stunt anyway,” says Rémi, a poultry farmer in the Dordogne. “All he says is nonsense. We can’t argue with him because he’s a liar. "
The discussion between @EmmanuelMacron and the farmers upstairs is over but downstairs, things are rumbling and the calm desired by the president has absolutely not returned.
#salonAgriculture #SIA2024 #Macron pic.twitter.com/wCZTM0RUzz
— Romain Brunet (@romain2dc) February 24, 2024
While he was to officially open the Agricultural Show at 9 a.m., Emmanuel Macron cut the symbolic ribbon 4 and a half hours late, around 1:30 p.m., under the whistles.
“I am 68 years old and I have never seen that. A president who is so unanimously against him and who brings all the unions in agreement, it is unprecedented,” underlines Dominique, who comes from Vienna and is very criticism of the numerous standards imposed by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
With his French flag hanging on his back, he accuses Brussels of being responsible for the numerous suicides among farmers.
“Those who come here experience this moment of confrontation like therapy. Rather than hanging themselves, they prefer to shout out their anger by sharing a collective moment with guys who are going through the same thing as them,” he analyzes.
“I’m 68 years old and I’ve never seen this.
A president who is so unanimously against him, who brings all the unions in agreement.
it’s unprecedented,” says Dominique, a farmer in Vienne.
#salonAgriculture #SIA2024 #Macron pic.twitter.com/Iq1yzZLght
— Romain Brunet (@romain2dc) February 24, 2024
For his part, after much uncertainty, Emmanuel Macron begins his wanderings.
While the “Macron resignations” are starting again with a vengeance, he walks as if nothing had happened towards Oreillette, the cow muse of the 2024 International Agricultural Show, and takes the time to chat with his owner.
The doors of the Salon eventually open after 2 p.m., letting in a continuous stream of visitors.
Well protected by the police, the president can continue his meetings with exhibitors, as if nothing had happened.
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