A group of French farmers stormed a major agricultural fair in Paris this Saturday (24), ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's planned visit, amid outrage over costs, bureaucracy and green regulations.
Facing dozens of police officers inside the market, farmers shouted and booed, calling for Macron to resign and using profanity aimed at the French leader.
“This is our home!” they shouted, as lines of French CRS riot police tried to contain the demonstration. There were some clashes with protesters and police arrested at least one of them, a Reuters witness saw.
Macron, who is having breakfast with French farmers' union leaders, was later expected to walk through the fair's alleys.
He canceled a debate he had planned to hold at the agricultural fair on Saturday with farmers, food processors and retailers after farmers' unions said they would not attend.
Farmers have been protesting across Europe, calling for better yields, less bureaucracy and denouncing unfair competition from cheap Ukrainian products imported to aid Kiev's war effort.
The Paris agricultural fair is a major event in France, attracting around 600,000 visitors over nine days.
The farmers' protests, which have spread across Europe, come at a time when the far right, for which farmers represent a growing electorate, sees gains in June's European Parliament elections.
French farmers earlier this month largely suspended protests that included blocking roads and dumping manure in front of public buildings, after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised new measures worth €400 million ( US$433 million).
But protests resumed this week to pressure the government to provide more aid and deliver on promises ahead of the Paris agricultural fair.
Source: CNN Brasil
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