French Farmers Block Highways Around Paris as Protests Sharpen

[mahatmakanejeeves]

In other news, it's a day that ends in "y."

Bloomberg

French Farmers Block Highways Around Paris as Protests Sharpen

Jenny Che and Valentine Baldassari
Mon, Jan 29, 2024, 10:07 AM EST • 2 min read

(Bloomberg) -- French farmers started to block highways around Paris using tractors to pressure the government into further concessions to ease the burden of rising costs and red tape. ... At least five were closed at key points within 100 kilometers of the capital on Monday, while others were operating with reduced lanes, according to the government’s Bison Futé traffic website.

The country’s FNSEA and Young Farmers unions called for a “siege” of Paris after pledges for support by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in the last three days failed to end protests that began more than a week ago, even as some sought to use more moderate language.

“We’re stepping up the pressure because we’ve realized that when it’s far from Paris, the message doesn’t get through,” FNSEA head Arnaud Rousseau said earlier on RTL radio. “Our aim isn’t to annoy or make life difficult for the French, our aim is to put pressure on the government so that we can quickly find a way out of the crisis.”

Farmers have been choking roadways across the country to protest higher production costs, stringent regulations imposed from Brussels and what they call unfair competition from abroad. France is the European Union’s biggest agricultural producer, accounting for close to €100 billion ($108 billion) annually, or around 18% of total output.

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[Quakerfriend]

1. Me thinks there may be another motivation

behind this as talks are scheduled to occur in Paris re: Israeli & Palestinian ‘peace’ talks.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. French farmers close in on Paris as government struggles to calm protests

French farmers close in on Paris as government struggles to calm protests

French police arrested some protesting farmers on Wednesday as convoys of tractors edged closer to Paris, Lyon and other strategic locations in France, with many ignoring warnings of police intervention if they cross red lines laid down by ministers.

Issued on: 31/01/2024 - 09:47
Modified: 31/01/2024 - 09:55

By: FRANCE 24 https://twitter.com/France24_en | FRANCE 24 | Video by: Carys GARLAND https://twitter.com/carysgarland

Farmers' unions, unimpressed by concessions offered by President Emmanuel Macron's government, encouraged their members to fight on for improved pay, less red tape and protection from foreign competition.

"I'm so proud of you," Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, head of the farmers' association in the southwestern Lot-et-Garonne department, told protesters headed for the wholesale Rungis market south of Paris, a key food distribution platform for the capital.

"You are fighting this battle because if we don't fight we die," he said.

Police said 18 people were arrested for "obstructing traffic" near Rungis, which the government had warned farmers to stay away from.

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