France Faces Holiday Disruptions As Farmers Weigh Christmas Truce

PARIS, France—The French government has called for a "Christmas truce" as farmers continue a week of intense protests against agricultural policies and the EU-Mercosur trade deal.

Reuters reports that the emonstrations intensified on Friday with farmers gathering tractors outside President Emmanuel Macron’s residence in Le Touquet, where they displayed a coffin symbolising the "death" of French agriculture. In Avignon, protesters threw potatoes at public buildings to signal their frustration.

The unrest is driven by two primary grievances:

Disease Management: Farmers argue that the mandatory culling of entire herds to combat lumpy skin disease is excessive.

Trade Concerns: Protesters fear the Mercosur deal will allow an influx of imports that do not meet strict French standards.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with union leaders on Friday to address these concerns. While the Young Farmers union has agreed to a holiday pause, the country’s largest union, the FNSEA, stated that a suspension of protests depends entirely on a formal letter of commitments expected from the Prime Minister this evening.

However, other groups remain defiant. The Confédération Paysanne expressed disappointment over the lack of progress regarding livestock slaughtering policies, suggesting that local blockades may continue despite the government's warning that further disruptions will not be tolerated.

"This letter will be decisive," said FNSEA Chairman Arnaud Rousseau, noting that the union would decide its next steps only after reviewing the government’s specific proposals.