Angry farmers: leader accused of complacency after violence

In Agen (Lot et Garonne) the station is blocked; a wild boar hanged in front of the labor inspection building. Near Béziers (Hérault), the gates of two large trading warehouses were forced open – “now it’s bread, or it will be lead,” the sign read. In Clermont-l’Hérault, in the same department, the asphalt of the Leclerc supermarket was completely restored. In Narbonne (Aude), the Mutualité Sociale Agricole organization burned down. The anger movement among farmers has become increasingly radical over the past two days. Without the intervention of law enforcement agencies, at the direction of the government.

However, on Wednesday, territorial intelligence warned of a “risk of retreat” and “real disruptions to public order (…).” But the executive stuck to its line: preventing lockdowns was “out of the question” and ordered police to show “great moderation.” Baroque?

Gabriel Attal sparks ‘healthy anger’

“We are not responding to suffering by sending CRS farmers (…) to work, and when they want to demonstrate that they have demands, they need to be heard,” suggested Gérald Darmanin on Thursday evening on TF 1, adding: “As minister Ministry of Internal Affairs, at the request of the President and Prime Minister, I allowed them to do this.” As for Gabriel Attal, if he reminded this Friday that “there is no justifiable violence,” he at the same time spoke of “healthy anger.”

Rare leniency towards demonstrators, a sign that the executive branch wants to avoid conflict at all costs. “Environmentalists in St. Solin were 89% unfavorable,” the minister adds, not without ulterior motives… But this strategy is not without significant political risks. Moreover, elected officials were treated poorly: Renaissance deputy Jean-René Cazeneuve was sprinkled with flour, and heaps of manure were dumped in front of the house of the head of the Macronist senators, François Patriate.

“Opinion may change”

The left is outraged and condemns the “double standards” of the executive branch. “The republican order does not have a changeable geometry,” the PS mayor of Montpellier, Michael Delafosse, scolded forcefully. The tone may change,” said the chosen walker.

Suffice it to say that on this Friday evening, most were holding their breath. “We spent days saying the anger was legitimate, we were justifying it. From behind, if the traffic changes, if from the first Saturday we go from the roundabouts to the Arc de Triomphe, then it will be difficult…” sighs the Renaissance deputy. “And opinions may change,” warns another. Suffice it to say that for the government, a return to calm is imperative.