France, and beyond, besieged by tractors. Tonight there have been road blocks in several cities which are creating traffic difficulties in a growing climate of tension. The government has ordered the deployment of over 15 thousand gendarmes and police to keep the situation under control and protect, as far as possible, the capital Paris.
We are not yet at the level of the gilet jaunes protests of 2018 but the social and political climate is characterized by protest. France is one of the largest agricultural countries in Europe. The green policies have never been fully shared by farmers who are "angry about incomes, bureaucracy and environmental policies" reports the agency Askanews. More or less similar situation tonight also in Germany.
In Germany the game is against the government's initiatives (as well as those of the EU) with the Greens facing the first accusations. The reductions on diesel for agricultural vehicles will progressively decrease and the farmers' resistance is a resistance to everything that should change in the countryside with a view to the transition.
Criticism of the free trade agreement
Returning to France, the young prime minister Gabriel Attal opened a dialogue with farmers with statements such as “France is deeply proud of its farmers”. He promised to stop the increase in taxes on diesel and one extraordinary allocation for agricultural businesses of 50 million euros. On a central part of the protests, the agreement for agricultural imports from South American countries - the Mercosur treaty - the French government has committed to intervening within the EU. At the moment these are the most open positions.
The Europe - South America free trade agreement is also at the center of the protests by German farmers which gave rise to the demonstrations. But everywhere the marches and sit-ins enjoy the clear or hidden support of right-wing and sovereignist groups. It is not lost on us that the theme of agriculture will be at the center of the electoral campaign for the European elections in June. The right-wing parties did not support the part of the Green Deal on the development of a new agriculture and the farmers' sentiment is a feeling of rejection of the entire agricultural policy which has renewal and sustainability goals for 2027.
Italy with two faces?
In this context, Italy led the way with the minister Francesco Lollobrigida to contest Brussels' directives. His positions, starting from the no to cultured meat, have been supported by other governments. Then, on the whole issue of nutrition, the Italian government has no scruples in showing even a vaudeville face like that of the minister who posts a video from a pasta factory to say that you have to eat Italian.
The protests are headed by the Committee of Betrayed Farmers (CRA). They defend themselves from imports, they want to keep the land, they accuse the banks of a credit policy that is unsuitable for developing their companies. Do they intend to boycott the ecological transition that passes through crops? To go where? The government winks at him imagining a revenge traditionalist or does he not remember that in the Pnrr the agriculture of tomorrow is entirely sustainable?
For today, potentials have been announced on the outskirts of Milan and also in Puglia, Calabria, Lazio, Campania. However, today's leaders, but former ones of the Pitchfork Movement, want to get to Rome. The suggestion of "conquering" the capital returns every time there is someone in the city ready to welcome you. This time if really the tractors they will arrive in Rome with the flags the ministers will have to tear up all the pages of the Pnrr dedicated to green agriculture. A magnificent own goal.
