A twelve-day protest by farmers in southwestern france concluded Friday, December 26th, leaving traffic disrupted on the A63 motorway near Bordeaux and highlighting ongoing frustrations within the country’s agricultural sector. Organized by the Coordination Rurale 33 (CR33), the blockade stemmed from concerns over economic hardship and a perceived lack of goverment support for farmers. Despite lifting the protest due to a lack of response from officials, organizers say the movement demonstrated a meaningful show of solidarity and spurred renewed interest in their union amid broader national agricultural discontent.
Traffic remains disrupted in southwestern France as farmers ended a twelve-day protest along a major highway on Friday, December 26, expressing frustration with the government’s lack of response to their concerns. The blockade of the A63 motorway, near Bordeaux, brought traffic between Spain and Bordeaux to a standstill since the evening of December 14, causing significant delays and forcing motorists onto lengthy detours.
The protest, organized by the Coordination Rurale 33 (CR33) farmers’ union, centered on demands for greater support for the agricultural sector. Farmers say they feel unheard by policymakers despite facing economic hardship. “We spoke to a wall, we got nothing at all,” lamented Vincent Collineau, a farmer from Monségur and co-president of the CR33. “The total cull is still there, farms are in trouble – twelve days without taking care of the animals is like leaving a primary school for twelve days without adults. We held out for twelve days, but who can be happy to leave like this?”
“They are Mocking Us”
The CR33 stated in a press release that it decided to lift the blockade because continued disruption without a response from authorities would be unproductive. “The claims made by CR33 to the prefect, the president of the Region and the deputies have, to date, received no response,” the union said. “As institutions are at a standstill and answers are not forthcoming, continuing under the same conditions would no longer have an impact. Lifting the blockade is refusing useless exhaustion and choosing to prepare for the future.”
Sébastien Lecourt, a cattle and wine producer from Saint-Sulpice-de-Pommiers, voiced his bitterness as the protest wound down. “We are leaving, they are mocking us, they are warm, they are spending the holidays on vacation,” he said, referring to politicians and the government. The lack of engagement from officials has fueled resentment among the protesting farmers.
The occupation of the site by the Coordination rurale 33 left traces on the asphalt and surrounding areas.
GUILLAUME BONNAUD / SO
Despite the disappointing outcome, the farmers expressed a sense of accomplishment. “What profession has demonstrated outside, in the cold, on a highway, for Christmas? If we do this, it’s because what we are asking for is vital,” said Collineau. “Since 2024, only CR and the Conf’ [Confédération paysanne] have been fighting.”
Lecourt believes the mobilization wasn’t in vain, despite the lack of immediate results. “We were able to rally people to our cause, given the scale of the movement. There have been zero announcements, but CR has been able to mobilize. We didn’t believe it ourselves at first, we were heading for a good mobilization, but not as much as that.”
Jean-Paul Ayres reported a surge in membership to the CR33 since the protests began, with individuals joining from rival unions, the FNSEA and the Jeunes Agriculteurs, which are perceived as being too close to the government. The movement also appears to have spurred increased participation in agricultural vaccinations, according to the CR33.
