French farmers are embarking on a widespread campaign of demonstrations, with a notable blockade of major roads encircling Paris, termed the "siege of Paris." This movement mirrors similar protests in Belgium and Germany, where farmers are obstructing routes leading to Hamburg's port area. The French government has responded by deploying 15,000 police officers to prevent tractors from entering Paris and other urban centres.
The primary objective of these protests is to disrupt food deliveries to supermarkets, highlighting farmers' concerns over declining incomes, increasing bureaucratic hurdles, and heightened competition from imported goods. Despite the scale of the demonstrations, law enforcement has refrained from dismantling roadblocks elsewhere in the country.
In the heart of Paris, approximately 91 farmers who converged on the Rungis food distribution hub, known as "the belly of Paris," have been detained. These protesters caused disruption and damage at Rungis before being forcibly removed by security forces.
In response to the unrest, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has pledged further support for farmers and engaged in discussions with farming unions. Meanwhile, similar protests have erupted across Europe, with tens of thousands of farmers demonstrating in Germany, Poland, Romania, Belgium, and Italy.
The French farmers' unions have voiced their “huge expectations” regarding governmental assistance but acknowledge the challenges of immediate fulfillment. Prime Minister Attal has assured that new support measures will be announced in the coming days, signaling a potential resolution to the ongoing crisis.