French President Emmanuel Macron arrived this morning amidst a tense atmosphere in Agricultural Fair (Salon de l’agriculture) of Paris, in which dozens protesters they managed to break in at almost the same time by breaking into a bar, according to AFP reporters.

The French president arrived around 08:00 local time (09:00 Greek time) at the Exhibition to meet with trade unionists in the sector.

Around the same time, protesters, some with whistles, rushed to the main entrance, where clashes with the police.

France farmers

Protesters from the FNSEA, Jeunes agriculteurs and Coordination rurale unions breached a bar and stormed the compound, according to AFP reporters.

Clashes occurred between security forces and protesters wearing distinctive signs of the three unions, as Macron began talking to union officials in another area nearby, where he was safe.

Members of law enforcement were deployed in the corridors of the fairgrounds and law enforcement managed to contain the protesters.

France farmers

Yesterday, Friday, President Macron canceled a large public debate that he had planned to have today at the Agricultural Fair, however proposing to the agricultural unions a meeting before the official opening of the fair.

The idea of ​​a major public debate, a Macron hallmark, turned into a fiasco as Thursday’s reference to the invitation to the environmental association Soulèvements de la Terre (Rebellions of the Earth), even if it was quickly cancelled, angered farmers.

Farmers protested in front of the exhibition center yesterday and some stayed there overnight. Another procession of tractors had arrived in the French capital during the day, which remained for hours in the heart of Paris.