“We’ll stay for as long we have to” — that’s the mantra of protesting farmers in France who insisted they won’t back down as they launched a “siege of Paris” onboard their tractors.
The slogan has been repeated by unions and first-time demonstrators alike since the disgruntled farmers’ movement was launched a week and a half ago, with 24-hour blockades set up on highways across the country.
Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron’s new 34-year-old prime minister, has repeatedly portrayed himself as understanding the farmers’ concerns, which range from complaints of overregulation to a perceived lack of consideration, and announced last Friday a series of measures meant to appease the sector.
Got to love the French protest spirit. Though, these seem to be regressive in nature. Still, participatory democracy demands protest.