French farmers block main roads to Paris to protest excessive environmental regulations, taxes, low pay

French farmers followed through with their warnings of blocking routes to Paris Monday to protest the EU-driven excessive environmental regulations, taxes, and low pay. The Guardian reports that 8 main motorways into the city have been paralyzed.

Friday, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced concessions for farmers in response to the ongoing protests, including halting rising fuel costs and simplifying regulations.
 

"You wanted to send a message, and I've received it loud and clear," he said.

"We will put agriculture above everything else," he promised.

He said he would implement "10 immediate measures" to aid the struggling farmers including making appeals to the EU.

His efforts, however, were widely rejected.

"We are not satisfied with what was announced this evening," Alexandre Plateau, a representative of the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA), the main farmers' union, told the Franceinfo radio network.

"A few requests have been met, but it is not enough."

In response, protesters promised to "besiege" the capital by Monday with as many as 1,500 tractors.

The gendarmerie reported that 16 motorways in 30 French departments total have been blocked. French president Emmanuel Macron held a crisis meeting with key cabinet ministers to discuss the "Operation Paris Siege."

The interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, said 15,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to prevent the tractors from entering Paris any further.

"The aim is not to annoy the public but to get answers from the government to come up with further measures," said Clement Torpier, president of the Ile de France Young Farmers.


Image: Title: french farmer protests
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