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French farmers Intensify Protests Over Bovine Dermatosis Response, Blocking Key Roads
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farmers across southwestern France are maintaining roadblocks on major roadways as of Saturday, December 27th, escalating their protest against the government’s handling of the bovine dermatosis outbreak. The demonstrations follow a partial lifting of blockades in New Aquitaine on Friday, but organizers vow to continue and even strengthen their actions into the new year.
Road Closures and Regional Impact
The Ministry of the Interior reported ongoing disruptions Saturday morning on several key routes, including the A75 in Buisson (Lozère) and Sévérac-d’Aveyron, the A64 near Carbonne (Haute-Garonne), the RN88 close to Rodez, and the RD1124 at the entrance to Auch. A single remaining blockade was identified in New Aquitaine, located on the RD824 in Tartas (Landes).
The most important disruption centers around the A75, approximately 250 kilometers northeast of Auch, where farmers successfully unified blockades at severac d’Aveyron and Le Buisson on Friday. Eloi Nespoulous,co-president of the CR de l’Aveyron,stated the motorway is now closed to traffic for nearly 100 kilometers north of the Millau viaduct. “We joined up with the CR48 at La Canourgue to block a 20-kilometer portion which was still open,” Nespoulous explained, “We poured so that it was closed.”
Escalation of Tactics and Demands
Frustration with the government’s response boiled over during the night, with farmers dumping straw and waste in front of the Gers prefecture in Auch. This act of protest specifically targets the policy of systematically culling entire herds upon detection of lumpy skin disease (LCD). “The Christmas holidays are over, we’re ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve,” asserted Vincent Arbusti, spokesperson for the Gers rural Coordination (CR) union, from a blockade at the entrance to Auch.
In New Aquitaine, while the CR dismantled several motorway blockades on Friday, a press release indicated a commitment to “come away even stronger” in January. The Gironde CR expressed disappointment with the “silence” and “contempt” displayed by the government after twelve days of struggle, announcing the dismantling of their camp at cestas, south of Bordeaux. Similarly, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques CR confirmed the removal of blockades on the A64 near Bayonne and at a toll booth in Pau.
Contested Government Strategy
the state’s strategy for containing the DNC epidemic, which originated in Savoie this summer, rests on three pillars: systematic culling, vaccination, and movement restrictions.This approach, especially the culling policy, is fiercely opposed by prominent farming unions, including Coordination Rurale and Confédération Paysanne. These groups argue against the destruction of entire herds at the first sign of infection.
However, even within the broader movement, disagreements persist. Sylvie Colas, spokesperson for the Confédération paysanne in Gers, publicly criticized the damage inflicted on the Gers prefecture, stating, “This is the fifth time that the prefecture has been degraded,” and denouncing what she called “a lack of obligation” from the CR and the resulting financial burden on local communities.
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The ongoing protests highlight the deep-seated anxieties within the French agricultural community regarding animal health policy and the economic consequences of disease outbreaks. The situation remains fluid, with farmers signaling their intent to maintain pressure on the government until their concerns are adequately addressed.
