Protesting Farmers Challenge New French PM Ahead of Anticipated Reforms

French farmers intensified their protests on Friday, causing major disruptions on key highways across the country. They used their tractors to block and slow traffic, pressing the government to address their demands for easier and more profitable farming practices. The farmers are calling for better prices for their products, reduced bureaucracy, lower operational costs, and protection against low-cost imports.

This growing movement is increasingly becoming a significant challenge for the government, reminiscent of the 2018-2019 yellow vest protests against economic inequality that significantly impacted President Emmanuel Macron’s first term. With these issues resurfacing, the newly appointed Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, only two weeks into his tenure, is under pressure to quickly address the situation with expected measures to be announced later on Friday.

The farmers’ movement, known for its organization and media savviness, has been effectively using tractors and sometimes straw bales to create blockades on major roads. Vinci Autoroutes, a highway operator, reported that two key motorways in southern France leading to Spain, the A7 and A9, were closed on Friday morning due to farmers’ blockades, affecting nearly 400 kilometers (250 miles) of road. Additionally, around a dozen other motorways were impacted.

Farmer Nicolas Gallepin, participating in a protest near Paris, voiced his frustrations over the extensive regulations on food production, which consume significant time and resources, and rising fuel costs cutting into profits. He lamented the lack of fair compensation for farmers over the past decade and the challenges of competing with imports that do not adhere to the same stringent regulations.

The yellow vest protests, which began as a response to fuel taxes and evolved into a broad opposition against Macron’s government, similarly started with modest demonstrations at traffic circles. Farmers, initially expressing their dissatisfaction by turning road signs upside down, escalated their actions in recent weeks with traffic blockades and dumping agricultural waste at government offices to gain attention.

This unrest in France reflects a broader discontent among farmers across the European Union. The agriculture sector, despite substantial subsidies, is facing numerous challenges, including free trade agreements, increasing costs exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine, and other issues. This discontent is becoming a prominent topic in the upcoming European Parliament elections in June, with populist and far-right parties looking to capitalize on the rural dissatisfaction.