French farmers have escalated their protests against national agricultural policies, including increases in taxes and fuel costs.
The farmers’ plans to “besiege” Paris have prompted the country’s government to mobilize security forces to prevent the farmers from advancing on the capital.
French farmers have recently been protesting against the country’s national agricultural policies, including tax increases and fuel costs, which they say are unsustainable and putting pressure on the sector. The protests, which began in the city of Toulouse, spread to several cities last week, with thousands of tractors blocking major roads. Similar protests are taking place in Germany and the Netherlands.
The two main agricultural unions have vowed that their members will block all major routes connecting the city to the rest of France from Monday afternoon, including the main Rungis International Market, where most of the city’s fresh produce is bought.
– Transportation will be very difficult tomorrow in Ile-de-France, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said, according to Reuters.
French police surround a wholesale market with armoured vehicles after farmer unions threaten to lay siege to Paris indefinitely pic.twitter.com/gGkvklvPDh
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 29, 2024
15000 police officers called up
On Sunday, the French government held an emergency meeting in which Darmanin decided to order security forces to stop any convoy of farmers trying to enter Paris or other major French cities after the farmers said they would “besiege” the capital indefinitely, Deutsche Welle reports.
Police in Paris have announced that they will increase security around Rungis and Roissy airport, including the deployment of armored police vehicles. Some 15,000 police officers will be deployed as part of the security operation. Nevertheless, there are warnings of major traffic disruptions on Monday.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has promised to phase out fuel taxes and “drastically simplify” paperwork where possible, but farmers say this is not enough.
– Our aim is to encircle Paris, says farmer Daniel Faucheu.
