Green light from the EU for Mercosur: Mélenchon calls for “disobedience”, LFI and the RN want censorship of Lecornu

From La France insoumise to the National Rally, anger predominates this Friday, January 9, the green light from the European Union to the trade agreement with Mercosur. Despite France’s firm opposition led by Emmanuel Macron in Brussels, a majority of states supported the agreement, which could be signed as early as Monday in Paraguay by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“The European Union has just decided to sign the treaty with Mercosur. It is a terrible failure for the farmers and people of our continent. With one signature, all health precautions were taken into account,” Jean-Luc Mélenchon denounced on X a few tens of minutes after the announcement. The former candidate for the presidential election criticizes “the FNSEA peasant unionism and the PS and right-wing governments for 20 years (which) have let it happen. »

“Now all is lost. Disobedience remains the only alternative to resistance,” he says, while LFI has filed a motion of censure against Sébastien Lecornu. Does MP Clémence Guetté see a “terrible violation of the sovereignty of France, whose National Assembly voted unanimously to reject this suicidal agreement for our agriculture”.

Same anger from the National Rally, which also calls for censorship of the Prime Minister. On X, Jean-Philippe Tanguy denounces the “lies” that Emmanuel Macron allegedly told farmers.

For him, the President of the Republic has “ridiculed our country to our partners”. “The cynicism and betrayal of our farmers and our national interests have lasted long enough,” adds MP Maxime Amblard.

A demonstration on January 20 in Strasbourg at the call of the FNSEA

In addition to anger in the National Assembly where deputies are debating the budget, the green light from the European Union should strengthen that of the agricultural world in the streets, while two spokespersons for the Peasant Confederation were arrested “in a very brutal manner” in Paris this Friday.

“Two days ago they were in the Prime Minister’s office. Sébastien Lecornu told us: We will have to mobilize in the streets against MercosurFrance votes against and today, we are arresting peasant union representatives,” Fanny Métrat, another spokesperson for the union, protested to AFP.

The Rural Coordination had withdrawn its tractors from Paris the day before, while the FNSEA, the profession’s leading union, called for a large gathering in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on January 20 in the event of the agreement being signed. The green light this Friday is “a betrayal of European agricultural sovereignty”, denounces the union on X, which “will consult its network this evening to decide on further actions”.

“The fight will be hard and will be long,” said Bertrand Venteau, boss of the CR, specifying that his troops were ready to “come back”.

“Mass is not said”

Before the EU’s favorable vote, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon promised Friday morning that “the President of the Republic and the government will not let go of the farmers”. Because “the mass has not been said”, she assures: “the European Parliament has the possibility of referring the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union”. A process which would stop the application of the agreement for several months.

“Then there is the final ratification” by Parliament: “It is not said that there is a majority”, wants to believe Maud Bregeon.

“France assumes responsibility for saying no when necessary. This is not a posture no. This is a no demand. In the name of the idea that France, a founding country, has of Europe but also of its agricultural sovereignty,” explained Sébastien Lecornu earlier, denouncing the motion of censure filed by LFI.