French farmers defied a government ban on Thursday, blockading roads into Paris and several of the city’s landmarks to protest against the Mercosur trade deal the European Union is expected to sign on Friday with South American nations.
Around 100 tractors were positioned at several symbolic locations in the capital by 8am local time, including near the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, the Interior Ministry said.
Farmers overran police checkpoints to enter the city, driving along the Champs-Elysées and blocking roads around the Arc de Triomphe before dawn, while police surrounded them.
Dozens of tractors also blocked highways leading into Paris ahead of the morning rush hour, including the A13 from the western suburbs and Normandy. The transport minister said the disruption caused traffic jams stretching 150 kilometres.
“We are between resentment and despair. We have a feeling of abandonment, with Mercosur being an example,” Stephane Pelletier, a senior member of the right-wing Coordination Rurale union, told Reuters.
Banned protest
Farmers from several unions had called for protests in Paris, fearing the planned free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of four South American countries would flood the European Union with cheap food imports.
They are also angry over the government's handling of an outbreak of cattle disease.
The farmers went ahead with the action despite a prefectural ban announced on Wednesday, which barred tractors from entering certain sensitive areas of the capital.
“What is happening this morning is illegal,” said government spokesperson Maud Bregeon on FranceInfo public radio.
Police sought to avoid clashes with the protesters. “Farmers are not our enemies,” said Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.
What to know about the EU-Mercosur deal
Eve of Mercosur vote
The protest added pressure on President Emmanuel Macron and his government, a day before European Union member states are expected to vote on the trade accord.
France has long opposed the deal and, even after last-minute concessions, Macron’s final position remained unclear.
Earlier this week, the European Commission proposed bringing forward 45 billion euros in EU funding for farmers under the bloc’s next seven-year budget. It also agreed to cut import duties on some fertilisers to win over countries wavering on the Mercosur deal.
Germany and Spain back the agreement, and the Commission appears close to securing Italy's support. That would give the EU enough votes to approve the accord, with or without France.
EU offers farmers extra funds to quell anger over Mercosur deal
A vote on the accord is expected on Friday.
“This treaty is still not acceptable,” Bregeon said on France Info, declining to say whether Macron would vote for the deal, against it or abstain.
On Wednesday, Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans party, warned that Macron’s support for Mercosur could put the government at risk of censure.
Farmers are also demanding an end to a government policy of culling cows to contain the highly contagious lumpy skin disease. They argue vaccination should be used instead.
(with newswires)
