French farmers protested near Paris against the Mercosur trade deal, demanding fairer pay and decrying threats to rural livelihoods, while police blocked their convoys from entering the city.
Farmers from France's second-largest agricultural union, Coordination Rurale, protested near Paris on Monday against the Mercosur trade deal and demanded fairer compensation for their produce.
Their attempts to reach Paris and Lyon were blocked by law enforcement, causing widespread disruptions, according to Le Parisien.
The protests come ahead of a 13th of January meeting with French Prime Minister François Bayrou and elections for agricultural chambers, where the union seeks to challenge the National Federation of Farmers' Unions.
Since Sunday, tractor convoys from across France tried to converge on Paris but were halted by police. Tractors were reported in areas like Rambouillet, Meaux, and the RN4 highway, where even private vehicles faced delays. A convoy from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté attempted alternate routes but was intercepted near Fontenay-Trésigny, creating a "snail operation" that disrupted Monday traffic.
The union voiced frustration over being denied a meeting with Prime Minister Bayrou. Christian Convers, the union’s secretary-general, said they had sought approval for a designated protest site but were ignored.
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