French farmers are maintaining widespread protests involving road blockades across the contry,creating travel disruptions as the holiday season begins. The demonstrations, now entering their second week, are fueled by frustration over government handling of bovine dermatosis outbreaks and the recent suspension of EU-Mercosur trade negotiations. As of Friday afternoon, officials reported 93 protest actions nationwide, with new disruptions possible and ongoing negotiations between unions and government representatives at Matignon .
Farmers across France are continuing protests and establishing roadblocks, impacting travel as the holiday season begins. The demonstrations stem from discontent over the government’s handling of bovine dermatosis and a recently postponed trade agreement.
Several blockades and gatherings are planned for Saturday, organized by local sections of the Confédération paysanne and the Coordination rurale, in cities including Poitiers, Saint-Étienne, Aubagne (in the Bouches-du-Rhône region), Neufchâteau (in the Vosges region), and Nontron (in the Dordogne region). Officials say the list of planned actions is not exhaustive and more disruptions could emerge throughout the day.
Vinci Autoroutes reported Friday evening that conditions in the southwest were “netly improving,” with roadblocks being lifted. However, disruptions were expected to persist on the A64 highway between Montréjeau and Briscous, and on the A10, where “certain interchanges” could still be “occasionally impacted.”
The protests gained momentum after the EU-Mercosur trade deal was postponed. Following meetings with officials at Matignon, agricultural unions are divided on the future of the blockades, which are aimed at protesting the government’s response to bovine dermatosis. Bertrand Venteau, president of the Coordination rurale, urged mobilized farmers to “go rest” for a few days, stating, “The population is behind us, we cannot turn our backs on them.” He stopped short of calling for an end to the blockades, leaving the decision to local sections.
The Confédération paysanne, however, stated it “cannot call for an end to the blockades” without a commitment to halt the total culling of cattle affected by dermatosis. The ongoing protests underscore the growing frustration among French farmers regarding agricultural policy and trade agreements.
As of Friday afternoon, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez counted 93 protest actions taking place across the country.
Alex barca