A French police officer stands guard during a demonstration called by the Confédération Paysanne farmers union against the EU-Mercosur trade deal in front of the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris on January 14, 2026. DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP
50 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 Sebastien 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.
