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POLITICS

French farmers vow Paris ‘siege’ in showdown with the government

Farmers say they plan to block major roads leading to the capital from Monday in a bid to pressure the French government into reinstating a tax break on diesel.

French farmers are angry with the government.
French farmers are angry with the government. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP)

Farmers in the Paris region on Saturday promised to mount a “siege” on the French capital next week to pressure the government into meeting their demands on pay, tax and regulations.

On Monday afternoon farmers from all the regions around Paris, who belong to the FNSEA farmers’ union or the Jeunes Agriculteurs (“Young Farmers”) union, “will begin an indefinite siege of the capital,” the unions wrote in a press release.

“All the major roads leading to the capital will be occupied by farmers”, they added.

Farmers from the Lot-et-Garonne, one of the hotspots of the protest movement in southern France, had earlier announced their intention to “go to Paris” on Monday to blockade the massive Rungis wholesale food market south of the capital.

French farmers have fumed at what they say is a squeeze on purchase prices for produce by supermarket and industrial buyers, as well as complex environmental regulations.

But the last straw for many was the phasing out of a tax break on diesel for farm equipment.

Saturday’s announcement came the day after French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced a number of concessions to farmers, after they blockaded major routes into Paris and down in the south of the country.

Facing his first major crisis as prime minister, Attal told the angry farmers “you wanted to send a message, and I’ve received it loud and clear”.

Attal said the government would “put an end” to the rising cost of diesel fuel used for farming machinery which has been a consequence of tax breaks on the fuel being phased out.

There would also be an emergency fund to help cattle farmers battle illnesses among their livestock.

But minutes after that announcement, FNSEA boss Arnaud Rousseau dashed hopes of a swift end to the crisis, calling for “continued mobilisation”.

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POLITICS

French PM says new government names will be revealed ‘before Sunday’

France's long-running political deadlock finally reached a conclusion on Thursday night as newly-appointed prime minister Michel Barnier travelled to the Presidential palace to present his new government.

French PM says new government names will be revealed 'before Sunday'

Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s office said on Thursday that he would “go to the Elysée to propose to the president a government that is ready to serve France”.

After a meeting earlier on Thursday afternoon with the heads of political parties, Barner then travelled to the Elysée Palace on Thursday evening to meet president Emmanuel Macron.

Their meeting lasted for just under an hour and at the end journalists saw Macron showing Barnier out saying Merci beaucoup, à demain (thanks very much, see you tomorrow).

After the meeting, Barnier’s office said he had had a “constructive exchange” with the president and that the full list of names of the new ministers will be made public “before Sunday, after the usual checks have been made”.

French media reported that the full list of 38 names, of which 16 will be full minsters, includes seven ministers from Macron’s centrist group, two from fellow centrists MoDem and three from Barnier’s own party, the right-wing Les Républicains.

Listen to John Lichfield discussing the challenges that Barnier faces in the latest episode of the Talking France podcast – download here or listen on the link below

Barnier’s statement said that “after two weeks of intensive consultations with the different political groups” he has found the architecture of his new government, adding that his priorities would be to;

  • Improve the standard of living for the French and the workings of public services, especially schools and healthcare
  • Guarantee security, control immigration and improve integration
  • Encourage businesses and agriculture and build upon the economic attractiveness of France
  • Get public finances under control and reduce debt

France has been in a state of limbo ever since parliamentary elections in July produced a deadlock with no group coming close to winning enough seats for a majority.

A caretaker government remained in place over the summer while president Emmanuel Macron declared an ‘Olympics truce’.

He finally appointed the right-wing former minister and ex-Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on September 5th.

Barnier has spent the last two weeks in intense negotiations in his attempt to form a government that won’t immediately be brought down through a motion of no-confidence in parliament.

Numerous left-wing politicians are reported to have refused to serve in his government while several high-profile Macronists have also ruled themselves out, including long-serving finance minister Bruno Le Maire who last week announced that he was quitting politics.

The reported make up of the new government does not reflect the election result – in which the leftist Nouveau Front Populaire coalition came first, followed by Macron’s centrists with the far-right Rassemblement National in third – but Barnier’s hope is that enough MPs will support it to avoid an immediate motion de censure (vote of no confidence).

The government’s first task will be to prepare the 2025 budget, which is already a week late. France’s soaring budget deficit and threat of a downgrade from ratings agencies mean that it will be a tricky task with Barnier, who has prepared the ground for tax hikes by warning that the situation is ‘very serious’.

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