Farmer blockades to continue on motorways over Christmas in south-west France
Protests are being maintained on the A64, A83 and A63 and on departmental roads
Protests will continue into Christmas Day on the A64 near Carbonne (Haute-Garonne). Photo for illustrative purposes only
prochasson frederic/Shutterstock
Several road blockades are set to remain in place on major roads in France over Christmas as some farmers continue protest action over the festive period.
A call for a ‘Christmas truce’ by union leaders has been partially heeded with many of the largest blockades lifted - but not all.
Major blockades remain today (December 24) on the A64 near Carbonne (Haute-Garonne) in south-west France, although smaller blockades further along the route by Basque farmers have been lifted. Farmers also continue to block the A63 near Bordeaux, at Cestas.
Farmers blocking the A64 will hold a Christmas mass tonight, signalling their intention to keep the blockade up in the coming days.
Notable blockades are also in place on the A83 in Vendée, the RN19 in Haute-Saône, and the N124 in Gers. Disruption also remains in place on smaller national or departmental roads.
You can read how to check for road blockades near you at our article here.
There is also the chance of small actions – such as temporary blockades, tractor convoys, or disruption outside public buildings including mairies – throughout the Christmas period. These are not usually announced in advance.
One such surprise protest took place yesterday in the Haute-Loire, where around 50 farmers set up a blockade at a roundabout in Cussac-sur-Loire.
Will protests return after Christmas?
French President Emmanuel Macron met with union leaders yesterday (December 23) to discuss the upcoming EU-Mercosur trade deal.
A key vote on the deal has been delayed until January 2026, but unions are united in their response and want it fully cancelled.
While farmers who have continued protests also oppose the Mercosur deal, they are mainly protesting over the orders to slaughter cattle herds affected by lumpy skin disease.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced an extra €11 million in funding to help affected farmers and improve an already-expanded vaccination drive against the disease However for some farmers this is not enough and they are calling for a total end to any slaughter requests.
Unions are set to hold internal meetings after Christmas to decide on the future of the movement.
They have not ruled out the possibility of calling for farmers to return to their blockades after Christmas, although they may opt to call for a prolongation of the truce until after New Year.
A collective decision will be made together by the leading unions, meaning if protests do return, they will be strongly backed and largely disruptive.
