79 people were arrested as French farmers, 2 weeks into massive protests over taxes and agricultural policy, tried to enter a wholesale food market near Paris.

French farmers angry over increased taxes and European agriculture policies they say threaten their livelihoods were on the roads well before dawn Wednesday, blocking highways and access roads to Paris. The protests, now about two weeks old, brought traffic to a standstill in many places as tractors blocked lanes or entire sections of highways for miles, and 18 people were arrested Wednesday.

The farmers remained determined to keep up pressure on France’s government to change its policies, and there was no sign of an imminent end to their blockades encircling the capital. They advanced Wednesday toward Orly airport, south of Paris, and other major cities and towns, including Lyon in the east and Toulouse in the southwest.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    2·
    11 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    The protests, now about two weeks old, brought traffic to a standstill in many places as tractors blocked lanes or entire sections of highways for miles, and 18 people were arrested Wednesday.

    In addition to the increased tax burden and European agriculture policies that they say are threatening their ability to survive, the French farmers also want more concessions from the government to combat rising costs of fuel and animal feed.

    One of the places the farmers wanted to reach was the huge Rungis wholesale food market south of Paris, where supermarkets, stores and restaurants go to buy their supplies.

    A few farmers said they felt they were being given a police escort rather than threatened, as national Gendarmerie forces drove alongside them, ready to turn them off onto a different route if they got too close to the limits set by the interior minister.

    The farmers have been protesting for more than two weeks, causing major traffic jams in several towns, dumping manure in front of local authority buildings and filling public squares with rotting fruit and bales of hay.

    The government has adopted a gentle approach thus far, but there are fears the largely peaceful movement could turn violent if it drags on and if farmers feel they are not being heard.

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