Around 100 members of the Confédération Paysanne union entered a section of the ministry, which they occupied for an hour to denounce the government's agricultural policy. 

Fifty protesting farmers were detained in the French capital on Wednesday, January 14, after forcing their way into an agricultural ministry building, in a sign of rage at the government's response to the sector's grievances. Farmers have since December staged protests and set up roadblocks over the government's handling of a lumpy skin disease outbreak in cattle, as well as broader discontent over France's agricultural policy.

Despite Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's promise of an "emergency bill" to help alleviate their woes, some farmers continued to block roads and demonstrate on Wednesday, with sporadic action planned for Thursday.

Around 100 members of the Confédération Paysanne union entered a section of the ministry, which they occupied for an hour to denounce the government's agricultural policy. Police said 50 people were arrested and taken into custody for "disturbing public order" along with several "criminal offences." A ministry representative has filed a complaint, the police statement added.

Emergency agriculture bill

The Confédération Paysanne union reported 52 people in police custody and called for a gathering in front of a police station in northern Paris to denounce the government's "constant contempt" for farmers. "The agricultural ministry has filed a complaint against a peaceful action carried out without any violence," the union said in a statement, calling for the release of the activists.

Lecornu said on Tuesday he had tasked his Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard to prepare "an emergency agriculture bill" to address farmers' concerns. This bill would be "focused on several priorities: water, predation, and production resources" and be presented by the start of an agricultural show next month, he added on X. But unions oppose the bill, saying that it does not sufficiently address their demands.

Source - https://www.lemonde.fr