15,000 Officers Deployed to Address Agricultural Protests in France
After organizing a crisis inter-ministerial cell with Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau, Interior Minister Gérald Damarnin emphasized three main instructions: “that tractors do not enter major cities; that the Rungis market can continue to operate as well as the major airports.” The Interior Minister also announced that “15,000 police officers and gendarmes are mobilized, as well as armored vehicles from the National Gendarmerie, and helicopters from the National Gendarmerie.” He confirmed “the blocking of 8 highway points leading to Ile-de-France starting from lunchtime tomorrow” and urged the French to anticipate and not clog the roads.
Given that the farmers plan to block seven highways leading to Paris starting from Monday 2pm, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin will preside over the crisis inter-ministerial cell at 6pm this Sunday, along with Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of The Unsubmissive France, declared that he did not agree with farmers attacking State buildings.
The gendarmerie have started to deploy on the outskirts of the Rungis market with the aim to prevent any blockades. In the Hauts-de-France region, the A25 highway will progressively reopen after the lifting of the blockades.
TV host Karine Le Marchand has expressed support for the farmers, calling on Parisian bakers to offer croissants to the protestors. President of the FNSEA Arnaud Rousseau has urged farmers for calm and determination, whilst the FNSEA of Grand East plans to join the protests in Paris, as confirmed by their president Paul Fritsch. Disruptions are expected on major highways leading to Paris.
