Farmers to block all major roads into Paris during an ‘indefinite siege’ of capital

‘I’m not sure the march will serve the interests of farmers. It is an act which mainly penalises Parisians’

FRENCH farmers will begin a “siege” of the capital today, after warning Parisians of a “black week ahead” amid an escalating dispute over pay, tax and eco-regulations.

All major roads leading to Paris will be “occupied” by agricultural workers as they seek to raise the pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government, farmers unions said.

FNSEA, France’s largest farmer’s union, and the Young Farmers group warned of “an indefinite siege of the capital”.

It comes after more than a week of nationwide protests which saw motorways blocked by convoys of tractors.

The farmers plan to block access to the massive Rungis wholesale food market south of the capital, which supplies shops and restaurants in Paris and the Île-de-france region, prompting concern among local business owners.

Thierry Marx, president of the Union of Hospitality Trades and a local celebrity chef, told French news channel BFMTV: “We’re in solidarity with the farming world. But ... if Paris is blocked, 72 hours later there could be a shortage of products in our establishments.”

Gérald Darmanin, the interior minister, instructed French police to deploy a “significant” number of officers to prevent the blockade of the market and entry points into Paris.

French farmers are furious at what they say is a squeeze on purchase prices for produce by supermarket and industrial buyers, as well as complex environmental regulations. The last straw for many was the phasing-out of a tax break on diesel for farm equipment.

Concessions announced by the government on Friday, which included the cancelling of the planned diesel tax hike, promises to simplify bureaucratic hurdles and the acceleration of emer- gency aid, did little to mollify farmers, who said they measures fell well short of their demands.

Instead, the farmers vowed to hold firm on threats to take their grievances to Paris.

Marc Fesneau, the agricultural minister, told BFMTV: “I’m not sure that [the march on Paris] will serve the interests of farmers. It is an act which, in the end, mainly penalises Parisians.”

Yesterday, Gabriel Attal, France’s prime minister, told farmers at a cattle farm that the government was “determined to move forward quickly” with finding a resolution.“you wanted to send a message, and I’ve received it loud and clear,” said Mr Attal, 34, who is facing his first major crisis as prime minister after taking office earlier this month. “I know very well that we have not yet responded to the malaise and unhappiness of our farmers ... Any time we can make decisions quickly, we will.”