Farmers from the Rural Coordination 41 protested on the morning of Friday, July 18, 2025, in the streets of Blois, following remarks made by Europe Ecology-The Greens MP Sandrine Rousseau on the Le Média channel. Invited to speak about the approval of the highly controversial Duplomb Law, the MP declared: “I don’t give a damn about their profitability. […] I don’t think that’s the point.” The profitability of agriculture through chemical products at the expense of soils, biodiversity, and our health is not profitability; in fact, it’s dirty money.”
“These comments are an insult to farmers and our profession.”
A “disgrace” for the farmers, who therefore came to demand the MP’s resignation in front of the Green Party’s headquarters. “Sandrine Rousseau’s comments are quite simply an insult to farmers and our profession. It’s disgraceful, and that’s why we’re calling for her resignation,” explained one of the protesters.
Around thirty farmers, who came with their tractors, took up positions in front of the headquarters. This was a symbolic action to hold the MP accountable but also to make their voices heard in the face of accusations they consider contemptuous and “totally out of touch.”
A tense exchange between farmers and environmental activists
On the other side, the environmentalists appeared before the farmers to propose a moment of discussion. The dialogue was tense, reflecting persistent disagreements, but initially without escalation. During this exchange between the two camps, Guillaume Saveuse, assistant to the environmental group in the Centre region, acknowledged that he disagreed with Sandrine Rousseau’s remarks. “This statement shocks me,” he said.
Although the exchange was intended to be cordial, tensions quickly escalated late in the morning when the farmers attempted to spray graffiti on the facade of the premises. Volunteers from the office stood in front of the building, forming a human chain. The agricultural union abandoned the graffiti but still placed several bales of hay at the foot of the office, temporarily blocking access to the street. The farmers finally left the premises early in the afternoon, and the street was cleared by city services.
