2024-03-03 10:57:36
It is a very political Agricultural Show which closes this Sunday. The sector, angry for weeks and which had put most of the mobilizations on hold at the beginning of February, was waiting for the executive to turn the corner. The farmers had given the government until this 60th edition of the largest farm in France to present them with convincing and quickly applicable measures, commensurate with the crisis they are going through.
Macron booed, CRS and delayed opening
And the launch was rather complicated. The FNSEA – the majority agricultural union – had started a march towards the Porte de Versailles the day before the opening. In the early morning of the first day, Saturday February 24, dozens of demonstrators were there, determined to make themselves heard by Emmanuel Macron, who came to cut the inaugural ribbon and booed copiously. So we had to put the scissors away for a few hours. Time for a meeting with official representatives of the unions and sectors, then a debate with a few farmers chosen from the union ranks.
The Show finally opened to the public an hour late, and Hall 1, more than six hours later. The inaugural cord was not cut until after 1 p.m. “Never seen before” for its organizers. As for the traditional stroll of the Head of State in the aisles, it took place on stands emptied of their visitors, blocked by CRS cordons.
Calm for Attal
On the evening of the second day, the Prime Minister came to attend the dinner given in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Salon. An unplanned visit to his agenda, since his official trip took place on Tuesday.
That day, a much better welcome was given to Gabriel Attal for his 12 hours in the aisles of the largest farm in France. The contrast with the whistles and boos that still resonated three days before was glaring. The tenant of Matignon was questioned on numerous occasions by disgruntled farmers, but the tension had largely subsided.
The RN in the countryside
Last Sunday, the day after the eventful visit of the President of the Republic, the head of the RN list for the European elections made a much calmer passage through the gates of Versailles. For weeks now, the executive has been accusing the RN and Rural Coordination – the third agricultural union – of “collusion”, noting a “convergence of views”. Accusations reiterated throughout the Salon. Emmanuel Macron and Gabriel Attal even saw the influence of the National Rally in the heckling that was reserved for the head of state.
VIDEO. Boos, clashes and “anger”: a look back at Macron’s tense day at the Salon
Porte de Versailles, Jordan Bardella succeeded Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, and Marine Le Pen replaced Gabriel Attal, with a visit to the Salon on Wednesday. The opportunity for her to continue the seduction operation in the agricultural sector, less than four months before the European elections.
Egg throws and blocked Star Square
Fully expected at the show, the government has multiplied the announcements: plans for breeding and durum wheat, 40 million additional euros for organic agriculture, 100 million more for the fruit and vegetable sector. Decrees have also been published on the naming of meats or professions in shortage. But nothing to calm the anger of the farmers, which was expressed throughout the week in “their” living room.
It took a particularly noisy form on Friday for the Ministers of Ecological Transition and Agriculture, Christophe Béchu and Marc Fesneau, who had to cut short their visit to a stand, under whistles and “Fesneau resignation” from around twenty people – some of whom claimed to be members of the departmental federation of the FNSEA of Seine-et-Marne. The two ministers were even the targets of egg throwing.
On Wednesday, Marion Maréchal, head of the Reconquest party list for the European elections, was doused with beer.
At dawn on Friday, a surprise action was carried out by the Rural Coordination under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where tractors were parked and bales of straw were dumped.
The Oreillette cow, the muse
The Agricultural Show is not only political. It is also an opportunity for farmers and breeders from all over France to showcase their work. For more than a week, visitors crowded around this year’s muse, the cow Oreillette. They were able to enjoy regional specialties or attend animal competitions.
Oreillette, the cow muse of the show. LP / Olivier Corsan
Like every year, the party gave rise to some excesses. If wine bars, brewery and cocktail stands started tastings at 11 a.m., the sale of alcohol was prohibited after 6:45 p.m. and pints of beer banned on weekends.
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