Farmers close in on Paris and the Rungis wholesale market on Wednesday, despite efforts by the French government to respond to concerns and urge an end to the ongoing protests.
Evidence of the advancing farmers was seen as gendarmerie armoured vehicles were deployed Tuesday evening along the A6 motorway, near Rungis (to the south of the French capital region).
A convoy of 200 to 300 tractors from the southwest of the country made a stopover between Vierzon and Orléans, in Loir-et-Cher. Many villagers in the areas where the convoy passed were seen greeting the convoy and cheering, occasionally waving French flags, one AFP journalist reported.
The convoy planning to occupy the Rungis market – the main food hub of Ile-de-France – was encouraged by union leaders, who called on protestors to “Be proud! You are leading this fight because if we don’t, we’re finished.”
Despite being blocked previously by police, the convoy continues to be closely monitored.
Protesting French farmers 'besiege' Paris by blocking all major highways with their tractors, demanding just prices and loosened regulations.#farmers #protest #Paris #France #live #Reuters #news https://t.co/r0rmNxFC7E
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 31, 2024
Farmers are also moving towards Lyon, aiming to blockade France’s second-largest city. Tractors were seen blocking highway A89, which connects Lyon to Clermont-Ferrand, by late afternoon.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, speaking in the French Parliament on Tuesday said there must be “a French agricultural exception” and pledged the government’s unequivocal commitment to resolving the current agricultural crisis.
But despite his assurances, the protests are still going strong. On Tuesday, intelligence services counted nearly 120 blockade points nationally, with 12,000 farmers mobilised and over 6,000 tractors. This commitment is strong, even as Brussels hints at concession, particularly on fallow land issues.
