Protesting, the National Sport of France

Protests are a part of life here in France.

It’s frequently said that protests and strikes are the true national sport of France.

This week, French farmers continued protests just this last weekend, which include tremendous traffic jams of tractors and the occasional spraying of liquid manure onto municipal buildings in different parts of the country. The problem for farmers remains that it is too expensive for them to grow produce with all of the restrictions placed upon them. Sadly, not a new problem and one that has been building in many markets around the world, including the United States, although farmers seem much more fragmented in that country.

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There have also been protests in Germany, Holland and other countries for the same reason as green EU policies have been put into place to reduce carbon emissions, but without much of a plan for how already struggling farmers will make any money. It’s complicated.

Like a lot of countries, France subsidizes many of their farmers, which makes sense. Food production should be a national concern and I’d rather support people growing cabbages than dropping bombs.

Tractor Protests in France

Farmers riding their tractors are approaching Paris, intensifying protests against what they call unjust standards and competition that threaten their livelihood.

Protestors throw soup at mona Lisa in Paris

Another protest about food quality in France. And the Mona Lisa is just fine - it’s been under bulletproof glass for years and survived a previous custard pie attack (my favorite) with no issues. That someone made a GIF for it is just priceless. Civic involvement

Protests are often about pretty tangible issues

Despite the inconveniences, the French do get involved for real issues that matter to average people. When the government tried to manipulate minimum wage laws, there were massive protests, and the government backed down.

Earlier this year, our city was filled with protests for weeks on end as the government sought to raise the retirement age. Protests over supermarkets refusing to accept cash payments resulted in the supermarket again accepting cash instead of card-only payments. A supermarket that tried to open a cashier-less store was also forced to capitulate.

Despite occasional purposeless vandalism and the like, some protests, including some of those against raising the retirement age, seem unjustified. Even if it is a pain to not have your garbage collected for a month.  

An American resident in France interviewed in Michael Moore's film Sicko said the difference in France is that the government fears its people, maybe making them more responsive. There’s also a lot of power in the Presidency here, who many feel is simply not responding to their demands. So, the protests continue.

Considering that past protests have shut down all kinds of sectors, from public transport, to schools, energy plans and refineries, it’s a lot. And also considering that these protests are also a bit festive, with fireworks, loud music, barbeques, and sausages constantly going, along with a 2-hour break for lunch, as with almost anything else in France.

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