66 arrested in Paris farmer protests

French police detain 66 individuals in a farmers’ protest on Paris’ Champs-Elysees

French police said Friday they had arrested 66 people at a farmers’ protest on the Champs-Elysees in central Paris for blocking traffic during the morning rush hour.

Farmers employed tractors and hay bales to briefly obstruct traffic near the Arc de Triomphe, a stone’s throw from President Emmanuel Macron’s office at the Elysee. 

The protesters displayed banners expressing their aim to “save French agriculture.” 

This action is part of a broader European movement as farmers voice concerns over stringent environmental regulations, competition from non-EU imports, and inadequate incomes.

Axel Masson, a farmer, stated that around 100 protesters gathered peacefully at the roundabout since 3 a.m.

Some farmers have continued to block roads, set fire to tires, and lay siege to supermarkets, saying they need more measures, even after the government promised reforms.

Source: AFP

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