Rarely has the French political class been so unanimous. Rarely have farmers seemed to doubt the promises made to them to such an extent. While agricultural discontent is increasing again throughout the country, the Executive, like the opposition, denounce with one voice, or almost, the treaty with Mercosur, hated by the peasant world. The free trade agreement that the European Union wants to sign before the end of the year with the countries of the South American common market (Mercosur): Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, is adorned with all the vices of left and right combined. .
“France will not sign this treaty as it is”says Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday, November 17, from Argentina, where he has just spoken with the ultraliberal Argentine president, Javier Milei. The head of state, who was due to land a few hours later in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a G20 summit on Monday and Tuesday before flying to Chile, promises to use all his weight to prevent this agreement that he considers “ very bad » for agriculture. His words echo those of the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, who the day before had adopted his firmest tone before France Bleu by saying “no to this treaty”.
“ We refuse to open European markets to chicken doped with antibiotics, to beef raised in a context of deforestation, to corn treated with atrazine…”were alarmed on November 4 by more than 200 deputies from all sides in The Figaroasking the government to speak out ” courage “ to block this treaty ” absurd “. On November 12, in the worldno less than 600 deputies and senators asked the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to respect “the democratic expression of the almost unanimity of French parliamentarians”.
Paris cannot veto
This convergence of struggles between politicians and representatives of agriculture will not have prevented breeders and horticulturists express your desperation. Since Sunday night, tractors have disrupted vehicle traffic on the Ile-de-France. “Macron, if you go to Rio, don’t forget your rednecks! »we read on the hood of the machines. Demonstrations were expected to continue on Monday across the country and “fires of anger” were expected in most departments. Operators had to park their tractors on streets, squares and main arteries where the name “Europe” appears. The objective is“challenge opinion” against one “Sieve of Europe”explains Arnaud Rousseau, head of the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA) in Sunday’s Tribune since November 17.
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