PARIS, Sept. 3 (UPI) — Over 1,300 farm tractors in six convoys descended on Paris on Thursday, clogging roads as French farmers protested falling food prices and high taxes.
They also arrived, from across France, in over 90 buses and dozens of cars, police said. Some of the tractor convoys took over a week to reach Paris, rolling down highways at 35 kilometers per hour (22 mph). The farmers’ protest was organized by the agricultural union FNSEA after months of anger about falling food prices, particularly of meat and milk, which it blames on foreign competition, as well as on retail outlets.
“Milk has dropped to 320 Euros per ton ($355.45) from 340 Euros ($377.67) last year, and it’s still falling,” said farmer Christian Ribet, who rode his tractor to Paris from Brittany, a major source of pork and beef. “We sell at a loss even though it’s supposed to be against the law.”
Sebastien Louzaouen of the Young Famers’ Union added, “We’re at our wits’ end. If we show that we can blockade Paris, maybe it will prod the government into action. My apologies to the Parisians, but the farmers are coming.”
Commuters in Paris, aware the protest was coming, resorted largely to public transportation Thursday, limiting the number of traffic jams.
A massive rally of the tractors took place Thursday at the Place de la Nation.
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