Anger of farmers: demonstrators await explanations from the government

The anger does not abate. In France, farmers continue their mobilizations on the roads, despite government announcements and calls from unions. In total, nearly a hundred blockade points are still active, according to the Interior Ministry.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced several measures, including the establishment of a budget of 150 million euros in fiscal and social support, the pausing of the Ecophyto plan, which aims to reduce the use of pesticides and even the inclusion of food sovereignty in law. But the demonstrators remain skeptical.

The president of the FNSEA clarified that the movement was in the process of transforming and was awaiting clarification from the government: “we are waiting for more details, in writing, from the French government to fully understand what was said because it seems that there are discrepancies between what was said by the Prime Minister and his ministers, we have therefore asked for additional details, explanations and more elements to better understand what was said.”

In certain areas, which have already been blocked for several days, farmers are offering motorists free cartons of milk.

At the European level, many measures have also been promised. After a day of fiery protests in Brussels, during which thousands of farmers gathered in front of the European institutions, the leaders of the Twenty-Seven met with representatives of the demonstrators. Brussels has proposed granting a partial exemption from fallow obligations and limiting any uncontrollable increase in Ukrainian agricultural imports.

Ursula von der Leyen recalled that “farmers can count on European support”although it is not yet clear whether the promised measures have succeeded in convincing angry farmers.

In addition to the protests that have taken place in recent weeks in France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Belgium, farmers in other countries are joining the movement, such as in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.