Much of the political class reiterated on Friday that the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries should be "rejected," expressing outrage at Emmanuel Macron's "positive" remarks from Mexico. Macron himself had to defend himself, asserting that he remained "vigilant" and awaited "clear answers."

On both the left and the right, a large part of the political class reiterated on Friday, November 7, that the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries should be "rejected," expressing outrage at the "positive" remarks made by Emmanuel Macron, who assured the public from Mexico of his "vigilance."

"This agreement, finalized in secrecy and directly attacking the interests of French agriculture, must be rejected," declared Marine Le Pen, the leader of the RN deputies on X.

"After industry, it is now our agriculture that (the head of state, editor's note) is willing to sell off," criticized Bruno Retailleau, the head of the Republicans, on the same social network.

Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he was "rather positive" about the possibility of accepting the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries, thanks to the safeguard clauses obtained by France, even though he affirmed he would remain "vigilant".

He clarified this point later that evening during a press conference in Mexico City. "We have started to be heard by the European Commission," the French president said, "which is why I was able to say that I was more positive when it presented a new element compared to the initial agreement with a robust agricultural safeguard clause."

"But I remain vigilant, as I told you yesterday as well, because I am defending the interests of France and we continue to fight," "France continues to wait for clear answers," he insisted.

"Lunar" statement

His remarks had sown confusion even within the executive branch, since the Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard (LR) declared on Friday that the guarantees to protect French farmers were not sufficient.

"A president this discredited should keep quiet and let Parliament decide!", said PCF national secretary Fabien Roussel on X.

The leader of the Greens, Marine Tondelier, also expressed her dismay at this "ludicrous" statement. "After promising, hand on heart, that he would protect French agriculture from Mercosur, here he is abandoning it to unbridled competition with unacceptable standards. Even his Minister of Agriculture is against it," she remarked ironically.

"Emmanuel Macron is signing the death warrant of French agriculture," lamented Manon Aubry, the left-wing MEP, on CNews/Europe1, criticizing the "unprecedented and scandalous about-face" of the head of state, who "said he was going to oppose this free trade agreement."

She recalled that she had initiated "an appeal before the Court of Justice" of the European Union, which, if approved, "will suspend the examination of this agreement".

"This is an abandonment of our farmers."

For Socialist MP Boris Vallaud, the president is making "a mistake" by preparing "to say yes," when "Parliament has said no. The French people reject it." The Mercosur agreement, he warns, "is an abandonment of our farmers, our agricultural model, and our climate commitments."

"This is a betrayal you are preparing," also accused MP François Ruffin, who sits in the Green group, when addressing Emmanuel Macron.

"However, what did you get? Nothing. No 'mirror clause' in the agreement. On the contrary: a so-called 'rebalancing' mechanism has been added, which is very poorly named," he stressed, "and which in reality adds a further imbalance: if Europe raises its standards, the Mercosur states will be able to claim damages!" he hammered.

(With AFP)