French farmers protest Mercosur deal, bypass police roadblocks in Paris

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - French farmers staged fresh protests in Paris early Thursday, bypassing police roadblocks to carry out symbolic actions near major landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

The French Interior Ministry said it was "monitoring the situation very closely" after demonstrators forced their way through overnight police checkpoints set up on the outskirts of the capital.

Officials described some of the actions as "completely reckless," BFM TV reported.

According to the ministry, around 20 tractors had entered Paris by early morning, while most agricultural vehicles remained at the city limits under police supervision.

The protests were organized by Rural Coordination, which opposes the proposed free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.

Farmers are also demanding administrative simplifications and criticizing what they say is the government’s inadequate handling of the bovine lumpy skin disease outbreak.

On Wednesday, the Paris Police Prefecture issued an order banning tractors from entering sensitive areas of the capital, including the Elysee Palace, the prime minister’s office at Matignon, and the Rungis wholesale market.

Traffic disruptions were reported across western Paris, with the A13 motorway closed in both directions between Saint-Cloud and Porte d’Auteuil after farmers set up blockades, according to traffic monitoring services.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was following developments closely, a source close to the minister said.

Farmers said they would continue mobilizing to maintain pressure on the government ahead of expected announcements on agricultural policy in the coming days.