In France, farmers are also protesting for better working and living conditions. At an agricultural fair in Paris, some of them became violent.
A scuffle broke out between farmers and security forces at the gates of an agricultural trade fair in Paris – shortly before French President Emmanuel Macron wanted to officially attend the industry meeting. The farmers wanted to force their way into the exhibition center on the outskirts of the city in the morning around an hour before the event opened.
Before the planned tour, Macron met with representatives of the most important farmers’ associations in a closed room at the fair. He called for calm. The fair must go well and peacefully. The head of state said it would not be possible to respond to the agricultural crisis in a few hours. However, he promised an emergency financial plan and the enshrinement of agriculture and nutrition as an “important community interest” in law.
Even before the start of the agricultural fair, which runs until March 3, farmers had blocked traffic with dozens of tractors in the Paris area. France’s farmers have been protesting against poor working and living conditions for weeks. The farmers complain, among other things, about falling income and environmental regulations from Brussels. The government had promised farmers various help in the past few days.
Source: Stern
