French farmers take unannounced measures at the Arc de Triomphe: more than 60 arrests | outside

In the French capital, Paris, a group of angry farmers moved around the Arc de Triomphe this morning after a call from the union. Among other things, they briefly blocked part of the Champs-Élysées with hay bales and tractors. About 66 people were arrested, including a union leader.

According to one participant, the farmers gathered around 4 a.m. “in a quiet and respectful manner” at the famous Arc de Triomphe. Shortly after eight o'clock, there were still about fifty farmers there – surrounded by police – and about ten tractors. After about two hours, the events ended and traffic on the Champs-Elysées Avenue returned to normal again.

In the run-up to the final weekend of the major agricultural exhibition in Paris, the farmers' union Rural Coordination called for action to “save French agriculture.” (Rather small) farmer protests are also taking place elsewhere in the French capital. As is the case elsewhere in Europe, farmers in France complain of low incomes, European environmental regulations, and high demands on the sector.