The atmosphere was intense as the Salon de l'Agriculture's doors opened on Saturday, February 24. Tensions between the police and farmers heightened to such a degree that the official public opening for this nine-day event had to be delayed, while Emmanuel Macron addressed the trade unions.
With farmers chanting "Macron resign," it looked like the French president might have to forgo inaugurating this key annual farming event. "Since day one, I've been at the side of our farmers," Macron said at a press conference on Saturday morning, after meeting with the unions. "Over the past few years, we've made major progress together. We have faced a crisis of confidence, income and recognition." However, he added, "we have to be both humble and clear-sighted: We can't solve the farming crisis in a few hours. It won't be resolved today or during the show."
Accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau and his minister delegate, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Macron called for "this show to go well, to go calmly." Macron announced that the agricultural bill, postponed several times, would be presented to the Council of Ministers on March 20. "I made a commitment this morning, here, before the trade unions first of all, to recognize our agriculture and our food as a major general interest of the French nation. This will be enshrined in law, which will enable us to protect our agriculture in a firm and solid manner," he explained. "In three weeks's time, I will bring together all the trade unions and agricultural sectors to consolidate emergency measures and French and European commitments," and to launch an agricultural plan for 2040, promised the French president.
Just before his arrival, Arnaud Rousseau, president of the main Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants Agricoles (FNSEA) union, said he wanted to give Macron a "republican welcome," even though whistles were distributed to the activists present. On Friday, a tractor parade was organized through Paris. Several hundred farmers were waiting for Macron outside the Salon's official entrance on Saturday morning.
But Macron entered the show, which was not yet open to the public, shortly before 8m, managing not to pass the upset farmers. Instead, he went straight to the breakfast organized with union representatives. The disgruntled farmers outside began whistling and booing the French president and managed to force their way into the show. The security service was soon overwhelmed, and a group of Republican Security Corps (CRS) entered Hall 1, where the show's flagship cow showcase was located and where the official inauguration was to take place. The demonstrators' anger exploded. The police tried to channel them, as they kept repeating: "This is our place." Tensions ran high, with clashes and arrests.
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