French farmers suspend protests and return to their farms after the decision of members of the National Assembly (lower chamber of the French Parliament) to deliberately reject the bill abolishing restrictions in agriculture to avoid blocking it due to left-wing amendments," said Arnaud Russo, head of the leading FNSEA farmers union, on air radio station RMC.
Farmers began blocking many highways towards the capital from Monday morning. The stock took place in the departments of Essonne, Val d’Oise and Yvelines. Many tractors pulled up to the National Assembly building in central Paris. The trade unions, wishing to enforce their demands, stated that the protests would proceed for an indefinite period.
"We suspend the protest... The tractors return to farms, although we planned to stay here present and Wednesday," Russo said.
A day earlier, the majority of Members from the centre block and right-wing parties initially rejected the bill abolishing restrictions in agriculture even before it began. This was done on intent to circumvent about 3,500 amendments proposed by left-wing parties, which believe that a softening of the sector would have a negative impact on the environment. Farmers feared that these amendments could importantly hold the debate on the bill. The text will now go to a mixed committee of 7 Members and 7 Senators to agree on a compromise.
Agrarian protests have late resumed in France. Last week, farmers had already blocked respective highways in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments in the north of the country. Farmers request approval of a bill that would simplify bureaucratic procedures, the order of certification of their activities and revise restrictions on the usage of pesticides.
Continued here:
French farmers suspend protests and return to farms
