Final hours! Save up to 55% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

French farmers keep Paris roadblock threat as protests endure

Published 01/27/2024, 10:12 AM
Updated 01/27/2024, 04:27 PM
© Reuters. French farmers use their tractors during a go-slow operation near Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport as they protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Compans, near Paris, France, January 27, 20

PARIS (Reuters) -French farmers maintained nationwide protests on Saturday and kept their threat of roadblocks around Paris, arguing government measures to quell the demonstrations did not go far enough to meet their demands for better pay and living conditions.

On Friday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's government dropped plans to gradually reduce state subsidies on agricultural diesel, and announced other steps aimed at reducing the financial and administrative pressures faced by many farmers.

Yet the FNSEA, France's biggest farming union, said it would keep up its protests and many farmers remained at roadblocks set up by motorways and major roads on Saturday.

"On Monday, we will be heading for Paris," farmer Vincent Gimneste told BFM TV, at a roadblock in southern France.

Two local farmers trade unions representing those working in the countryside around Paris also told French media they were targeting causing major disruption in the capital on Monday, possibly around the Rungis food market.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will visit a farmers' site on Sunday, said Attal's office, as the government tries to prevent the protests from gaining in momentum.

© Reuters. French farmer Regis Bomy, 61, walks, as nationwide farmers protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe continues, in Chamant, near Paris, France, January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Demonstrators also held a silent march in the northern French town of Beauvais on Saturday, to pay tribute to farmers who have died in recent years, with some having committed suicide due to the stress of their working conditions.

France is the European Union's biggest agricultural producer and the French farmers' protests follow similar action in other European countries such as Germany and Poland, with many demonstrators saying they are being hit by globalisation and foreign competition.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.