It is very rare in modern democracies for a head of state to submit to a marathon of twelve hours of uninterrupted and often spontaneous dialogue, without filter, with the people. President Emmanuel Macron did it yesterday, who fulfilled the annual rite of spending the whole day touring the International Agricultural Show, the largest French fair.
Macron, who arrived at the Porte de Versailles compound in Paris at 7:40 in the morning, had time to take the pulse of the country, of rural and peripheral France, of that deep Gaul, at a time of social tension and politically very sensitive. On the visit they planned the hottest issues of the moment: the effects of inflation on purchasing power and the debate on pension reform.
The fair is not only important for farmers, ranchers and fishermen, groups that, from a numerical perspective, have lost a lot of political weight, as voters, in recent decades. The powerful agri-food industry participates in the show, with all its derivations. Its economic and social echo is, therefore, relevant.
Macron received banners critical of his pension reform, which is undergoing parliamentary proceedings. “Metro, work, grave,” said one of them. “64 years is death,” said another. The head of the Élysée insisted that the delay from 62 to 64 years in the retirement age is essential for the sustainability of the current distribution system, which he described as a “French treasure”.
Talking about pensions was not Macron’s wish and he expressed it that way. He even asked the protesters to be “respectful” of the fair. In reality, the president, in these mass baths, not only runs an obvious physical risk, despite the bodyguards who protect him, but also exposes himself to verbal challenges. Yesterday he was confronted by an environmental activist who accused him of inaction in the face of the climate emergency. The young man, very upset, was wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “What are you for?” He did not want to hear Macron’s reply, at whom he was pointing his finger. The head of state reminded him that he had been elected by the citizens and snapped: “Who has elected you?”
The French primary sector is always complaining. This year the fishermen take the cake. Macron met early in the morning with his representatives. In some Atlantic regions, Brexit has hurt them a lot because they have lost historical fishing grounds and are forced to reduce their fleets, with all the human drama that this entails. The president assured them aid and diesel at a subsidized price until the month of October.
In the current geopolitical and war situation in Ukraine, the usual call by politicians who visit the fair to consume national products became a plea in favor of “food sovereignty”. “70% of the meat served in our restaurants is not French,” lamented the president.
The president took the opportunity to ask the large food distribution chains to reduce their commercial margins and thus contribute to relieving citizens of inflationary pressure. The Government has already succeeded in a similar lawsuit against the oil company TotalEnergies, which a few days ago announced a cap, throughout 2023, of 1.99 euros per liter in the price of gasoline and diesel.
Other issues addressed by Macron were the drought and the economic damage to farmers from very strict laws on the use of fertilizers. Regarding the dwindling water resources, the president urged the preparation of a “sobriety plan” at the national level, similar to the one in force on electricity consumption. At that point he repeated a reflection on “the end of abundance” that he already did a few months ago and that gave a lot to talk about.
In visits to the agricultural hall, each president shows his character. The conservative Jacques Chirac, folksy, was a virtuoso in pretending that he drank all the drinks that were offered to him. Macron, very intellectual and urbanite, does not seem comfortable stroking cows. He is more into debate, dialectic, rationality to impose his arguments. The fair is an opportunity to display his talent, although success is not guaranteed. Difficult weeks are coming, of social conflict. The exhausting day at the fair will not have a magical effect; It was an unavoidable procedure, something that goes into the salary of every French president.