Facing dozens of police officers inside the trade fair, the farmers were shouting and booing, calling for Macron’s resignation and using expletives aimed at the French leader.
“This is our home!” they shouted, as lines of French CRS riot police sought to contain the demonstration. There were some clashes with demonstrators and the police arrested at least one of them, a Reuters witness saw.
Macron, who had breakfast with French farmers’ union leaders, was scheduled to walk within the alleys of the trade fair afterwards.
“I’m saying this for all farmers: you’re not helping any of your colleagues by smashing up stands, you’re not helping any of your colleagues by making the show impossible, and in a way, scaring families away from coming,” Macron told reporters after his meeting with union leaders.
The Paris farm show – a major event in France, attracting around 600,000 visitors over nine days – was scheduled to open at 9am local time. The doors were still closed at 9.38am, following the storming by angry farmers.
In a sign of tensions between French farmers and the government, Macron cancelled a debate he wanted to hold at the fair today with farmers, food processors and retailers, after farmers unions said they would not take part.
Farmers have been protesting across Europe, calling for better income, less bureaucracy and denouncing unfair competition from cheap Ukrainian goods imported to help Kyiv’s war effort.
The Paris farm show is a major event in France, attracting around 600,000 visitors over nine days.
Farmers’ protests, which have spread across Europe, come as the far right, for which farmers represent a growing constituency, is seen making gains in June’s European Parliament elections.
French farmers earlier this month largely suspended protests that included blocking highways and dumping manure in front of public buildings after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised new measures worth €400 million (US$433 million).
But protests resumed this week to put pressure on the government to provide more help and deliver on promises, ahead of the Paris farm show.