Almost 100 days before the European elections, the Ecologists (European Green Party) are still trying to make peace with farmers, while the election campaign of their leading candidate Marie Toussaint, which began in December, appears to be stalling.
At a time when agriculture has established itself as one of the first campaign issues of this election after the anger of the farming world in January and the executive has made “scapegoats” of ecologists, the Greens have assured that they have received an “excellent”. Welcome” from the world of agriculture to the agricultural fair.
Far from arguing with balls and whistles, the delegation led by party leader Marine Tondelier and leader of the European List Marie Toussaint was directed at the Ministers of Ecological Transition and Agriculture Christophe Béchu and Marc Fesneau to meet all the trade union organizations, including the Rural Coordination, which is the most hostile to environmentalists.
During their visit on Friday, the environmentalists were far from having conquered ground, as farmers say they are being stifled by standards, particularly environmental standards.
The environmentalists have mounted a rush of kindness. “We agree with you,” “that’s what we’ve always said,” “what you say is in our program,” Marine Tondelier repeats.
The exchange remains polite, but criticism often comes from the farming world. While some representatives of the Rural Coordination were still in police custody after an action near the Arc de Triomphe, Marine Tondelier played the role of acquiescence: “For the government, you are agrarian terrorists, we are eco-terrorists.”
“It may be fairer for you than for us,” replies Christian Convers, general secretary of the union.
A little earlier, it was the Salers cow breeder Alexis Picarougne who was outraged: “We love you, but you have to love us,” he said. “We have to stop saying we are polluters.”
The exchange takes a more intense turn and revolves around the issue of mega basins, water reservoirs that are considered necessary by certain farmers but which environmentalists denounce. MEP Benoit Biteau, himself a farmer, who took part in the demonstration in Sainte-Soline, is in turmoil. “You are destroying French agriculture with your methods,” replied the breeder.
The “sweetness” of Toussaint
Aside from this exchange, Marie Toussaint, who advocates “gentleness” in her election campaign, plays the serious card. She questions the proposal for minimum prices for agricultural products, recalls that farmers are the first to be affected by pesticides and calls for a redesign of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) so that subsidies support efforts for a green transition.
After entering the election campaign at the beginning of December, the MEP is still struggling to make herself known.
The one who condemned the French state in 2021 for its failures in the fight against global warming has been the subject of some internal criticism, especially since his first meeting, which featured a “booty therapy” session, a dance that took place on the sway of the Feet based hips caused astonishment.
But Marine Tondelier has no concerns about her candidate: “8%, which is the same level as Yannick Jadot at the same time in 2019.” It eventually reached 13.4%.
“Agriculture is at the heart of the ecological project and the list of environmentalists is dynamic,” says parliamentary leader Cyrielle Chatelain.
And MEP David Cormand assures that “the campaign is being built quietly”. A “field campaign, journey according to a set plan.” We make our pastures and harvest the seeds we have sown.
For him, the agricultural debate is therefore “extremely profitable for environmentalists, our word has been heard.” It is a European issue on which we have a strong opinion.”
The next trip for Marie Toussaint is the Antilles, where she leaves on Saturday with Priscillia Ludowsky, a former Martinican yellow vest with whom she wrote a book against environmental violence and who occupies a fitting place on the list of environmentalists.