French Farmers Persist with Road Blockades Amidst Government Calls for Christmas Truce

On December 20, 2025, French farmers continued their protests, maintaining road blockades in the South-West despite recent government appeals for a Christmas truce. This unrest stems primarily from dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the bovine dermatose crisis and related agricultural policies.

Representatives from the four main agricultural unions met at Matignon to discuss pressing issues like dermatose nodulaire and the EU-Mercosur agreement. Following these talks, some farmers began lifting barricades, but significant disruptions endure, notably on key holiday travel routes such as the A64 Toulouse-Bayonne, closed over a stretch of 180 km, and major routes including the A75 and RN20.

The French government urged a Christmas truce to ease tensions during the holiday season, with the FNSEA and Jeunes agriculteurs unions endorsing this call. However, groups like Coordination rurale and Confédération paysanne rejected it, maintaining protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 93 protest actions involving roughly 4,000 participants and 900 agricultural vehicles, highlighting the scale of the demonstrations.

Despite efforts by government officials, including Sébastien Lecornu’s recent message of support to the agricultural community, the FNSEA, France's leading agricultural union, declared, “the account is not settled,” signaling continued dissatisfaction. Farmers express a desire not to impede holiday travelers yet insist on pressing their demands, such as halting the total culling of herds affected by bovine dermatose.

Prime Minister’s letter on Friday evening emphasized ongoing dialogue and called for sustained discussions to resolve the conflict. However, the persistence of blockades underscores the fraught relationship between the government and France’s agricultural sector. This impasse unfolds amid the crucial holiday period, affecting travel and commerce across several regions.

The protests, characterized by their persistence and impact, illustrate the deep-rooted tensions as France’s farming community seeks more decisive government action and support.