For more than a week, farmers across France have been blocking highways, dumping manure at administrative buildings, and holding demonstrations to protest the government’s handling of an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in cattle, as well as the trade agreement between the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur.
On Friday morning, farmers gathered with tractors outside President Emmanuel Macron’s residence in the seaside town of Le Touquet in northern France. Protesters placed a symbolic coffin bearing the slogans “RIP Agri” and “NO Mercosur,” which they said represented the “burial” of French agriculture. Meanwhile, in the southern city of Avignon, farmers hurled potatoes at public buildings.
Farmers’ main grievances concern the state strategy for combating lumpy skin disease, which предусматриває the culling of entire herds when the disease is detected. They argue that such measures are excessive, economically devastating, and inhumane. In addition, they sharply criticise the EU–Mercosur agreement, whose signing has been postponed until January. Protesters fear the deal would open the European market to massive imports of agricultural products produced under standards lower than France’s environmental and sanitary requirements.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held talks with the main farming unions. Arnaud Rousseau, head of the FNSEA — France’s largest farmers’ union — said the prime minister had committed to sending an official letter by the end of the day with answers to key agricultural issues.
“This letter will be decisive,” Rousseau said, adding that FNSEA would then decide whether to suspend the protests during the holiday period.
Other unions, however, have taken a tougher stance. Representatives of Coordination Rurale and the Confédération Paysanne, which have been among the main organisers of the blockades, said the final decision on whether to continue protests would be made locally in each region. Confédération Paysanne spokesperson Stéphane Galais expressed disappointment after meeting the prime minister.
“We are very disappointed. The decision will be taken locally, but I’ll say this clearly: we cannot lift the blockades,” he said, adding that no progress had been made toward ending the policy of total herd culling.
By contrast, Pierrick Horel, president of the Young Farmers union, said his organisation would observe a Christmas truce and temporarily refrain from radical actions.
The government, for its part, adopted a firmer tone. Government spokesperson Maud Brégeon told RTL radio that the authorities would no longer tolerate further blockades and would “do everything necessary” to prevent the paralysis of transport infrastructure during the holidays.
As a result, the situation remains tense. Despite calls for a truce, the future of the protests will depend on whether the government’s actions convince the farming community that it is ready to adjust its policies on animal disease management and trade relations with Mercosur.