The anger of French farmers has not abated since they joined the European movement four days ago.
Near Toulouse, the A64 motorway remains blocked by demonstrators, while premises of the Regional Environmental Directorate (DREAL) were blown up by an explosion in Carcassonne.
“
This is unbearable, whether the building is empty or not.
I don't like violence.
The courts have been seized, I hope the perpetrators will be found.
(...) I denounce violence wherever it comes from, it cannot be a means of action,
” reacted the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, guest of the “Grand Jury” RTL-
Le Figaro
-M6-Paris Première this Sunday
.
Occurring during the night from Thursday to Friday, the attack – claimed by the “Viticultural Action Committee” – marked a turning point in the mobilization.
Also read: The cry of anger from the agricultural world that the elites refuse to hear
Five years after the “yellow vest” crisis, the trauma of which remains acute at the top of the State, Emmanuel Macron asked the prefects to go to the demonstrators this weekend to try to contain the discontent and prevent the protest from is not long-term.
Refusing to “
compare
” the current situation with the great jacquerie of 2018, Marc Fesneau brushed aside any “
confusion
” and affirmed that there
was “no panic at all
” within the executive. .
“
The Head of State asked us collectively to mobilize to perceive what this crisis is and to try to respond to it
,” the minister soberly summarized, calling on “
everyone not to get into one-upmanship”
.
Denormandie embodies “something that would be useful to the majority” for Europeans
Among the demands of French farmers is the denunciation of competition that they consider unfair from other European countries, as well as overly restrictive environmental standards.
In response, the government recalls that “
the agricultural budget (...) is the budget which is increasing the most
”.
“
We are providing resources to farmers to support them in transitions and to improve their competitiveness
,” praises the minister.
Also read: Egalim law: the government will increase controls to ensure a decent income for farmers
Aware that the processions target Brussels in particular and the numerous directives emanating from the Twenty-Seven, Marc Fesneau persists in thinking that the Union is the right level.
“
We must make the European subject a central subject because the future of France is Europe
,” he maintains.
Before suggesting that his predecessor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie, could lead the Macronist list to the European elections next June.
Today withdrawn from political life, the latter embodies “
something that would be useful to the majority
”.
“
It has something that is useful in public debate
,” he slips.