French farmers block roads to Paris: “Three days, then the food runs out” Macron invites a new Gaza deal: a hundred hostages in exchange for a sixty-day ceasefire

There are still roses, red and orange. However, the orchids have all disappeared. And more new deliveries are planned, says wholesaler Caméo. He stands somewhat lonely in the enormous hangar, where he usually sells truckloads of flowers. Many of his most important customers did not come this Monday. The national farmers’ association FNSEA has announced that it will block the Rungis fresh market in Paris as soon as its tractors arrive from the south of France.

“And believe me: whatever they say, they do,” says the wholesaler without looking happy. “Of course we are all for our farmers. But if so, they should attack the Elysée Palace instead of blocking Rungis!’

Understanding requirements

Located in the south of Paris, formerly a suburb, Rungis is now the largest fresh market in the world. 1,200 companies and 13,000 employees work there. Columns of semi-trailers from all over Europe deliver 5,000 tons of fruit and vegetables to the halls every day, as well as flowers and 2,400 tons of meat. Rungis supplies 12 million residents of the Paris region and 25,000 restaurants.

This will probably end soon. French farmers began blocking roads and highways around several cities such as Lyon and Paris on Monday. And Rungis.

Hundreds of tractors are moving from northern France and the south towards the capital. Entire sections of the highway have already been closed. Farmers are demanding much the same as their German colleagues from two weeks ago: lower taxes and duties, higher prices for their products and lower organic standards. “Otherwise they can no longer exist in the EU and worldwide,” says flower trader Caméo with understanding. “But does that mean they have to take Rungis away immediately?”

Saïd from Mantes-la-Jolie, 60 kilometers from Rungis, takes a break at the Mercato bar, where traders drink their first espresso at three in the morning. The pizzaiolo has become a staple in the airport-sized market area. He knows exactly how long the market could withstand a blockade: “Three days,” he says. “Then Paris will run out of food.” The waiter with the sharply trimmed sideburns nods. “My customers here in Rungis will soon have nothing left on their plates!”

Not good prospects. But the government is no longer in control of the situation. New Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who is only 34 years old, quickly relented last week, quickly withdrawing the planned tax increase on agricultural diesel that had sparked the protests. However, in mid-January, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz only granted German farmers a tax increase spread over three years.

“You are afraid”

In France, farmers feel they can extract even more concessions from Emmanuel Macron’s politically weakened government. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had also stated that he would “let the farmers do their thing.” That was undoubtedly a mistake: those addressed did not hesitate to ask twice and now threaten Paris, which since the time of the monarchy has been the symbol of the central power that is hated in the country.

The Rungis Market, on the other hand, is less a symbol than the pantry of the capital. Without Rungis, Paris goes hungry. Darmanin is aware of this. He now has armored police vehicles parked in front of the two main portals. Helicopters are constantly patrolling the sky. They should recognize the tactics of the approaching tractor army sooner.

“You’re scared,” cheers a flower wholesaler on his forklift truck in the fresh air. She? “Attal, Darmanin, Macron, all of them,” the older man lists contemptuously. “They are afraid because soon no one will vote for them anymore. The civil servants not because of the pension reform, the workers not because of unemployment insurance – and neither do the farmers anymore. They don’t vote for someone who is pro-EU, like our president.”

It’s not that simple: French farmers, who today generate an agricultural trade surplus of billions of dollars thanks to wine and grain exports, are not fundamentally against the EU: Brussels gives them 9.4 billion euros in subsidies every year, which makes France one of the largest European Union. net agricultural recipient.

“The EU’s eco- and climate bureaucracy is driving us all crazy,” answers the forklift driver, who does not want to say what he thinks of the right-wing populist Marine Le Pen – who also does not speak well of the EU. “The EU is forcing free trade agreements on French farmers, currently mainly with South America,” says the wholesaler, pointing to a gray hangar: “In Colombia and Ecuador, roses, tulips, sunflowers and even orchids are much cheaper. It’s nice, but the French breeders can no longer keep up with the price.” He thinks for a moment and then says: “They shouldn’t block Rungis, they should block Brussels!” (aargauerzeitung.ch)