Protests and blockades in France, Spain, Albania, over soaring price of fuel & cost of living

Emma Morgan
Connexion
Mon, 21 Mar 2022 11:32 UTC

Blockade protests are planned in several locations around France today (March 21), as professional drivers call for greater governmental support amid rising fuel prices.

Blockades are expected to take place in Bouches-du-Rhône, Doubs, Manche, Pas-de-Calais, Nord and Charente-Maritime, involving HGV, taxi, coach and construction industry drivers.

It comes after the government unveiled its 'resilience plan' financial package, aimed at helping households and businesses to cope with high energy and fuel costs.

The plan is in addition to a 15 cent per litre discount being brought in for individuals and businesses on almost all fuel types from April 1. Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari is also due to meet with representatives from industries which are heavily dependent on driving and fuel to discuss further support measures.

The Organisation des transporteurs routiers européens (OTRE) welcomed the measures "with satisfaction" and noted "the prime minister's desire to bring together professional transport organisations around the transport minister to outline the details of additional aids to combat the losses made over recent weeks."

However, the federation also judged the government's current promises to be "insufficient," calling for "a financial aid which is direct, with complementary measures per vehicle."

Here is what to expect in some areas:

Bouches-du-Rhône

Tourist coach and taxi drivers did not receive any specific aid in the government's resilience plan announcement. They are therefore planning a blockade around Marseille.

A taxi motorcade has already set off for the city centre along the A50, with another arriving via the A7, and another left from Port-de-Bouc to the north-west of Marseille at 08:30 this morning.

The three convoys will meet at the Clé Sud area of Miramas before continuing on. Coach drivers will be participating in demonstrations in Marseille city centre.

Doubs

Significant disruption is expected in Doubs today because of a 'snail speed' operation organised by the department's taxis.

The convoy left the Franche-Comté TGV des Auxons station and other locations at 07:00 this morning, and is forming a ring around Besançon.

Pas-de-Calais and Nord

In Nord, blockades are expected on the A1 and A23. HGV drivers had already begun to protest at 05:00 at a transport terminal around Dourges (near Lens) and another in Lesquin, preventing lorries from entering or exiting.

Christophe Caron, who runs a transport company near Arras, told Franceinfo that there are around 30 lorries gathered in Dourges, Rouen and Lesquin.

The government has promised €400million to large goods vehicle companies, or €1,300 per lorry. However, Mr Caron said that this does not: "equal a full tank.

"A full lorry tank is currently more than €2,000. We are losing more money by driving the vehicles than by leaving them at the depot."

Manche

Since 05:00 this morning, around 100 independent drivers and construction industry workers have been creating a blockade at the Guilberville interchange, between the RN174 and the A84, and on the road between Saint-Lô and Bayeux.

The vehicles are blocking the passage of lorries but also of cars, according to France Bleu Cotentin.

This comes despite the fact that OTRE called off protest action that it had planned following the government's €400million aid announcement.

The Fédération nationale des transporteurs routiers is, however, still considering action.

Charente-Maritime

A blockade is disrupting traffic around Lagord and the bypass to the north of La Rochelle this morning. Vehicles are currently only able to drive slowly along one lane.

The department's prefecture has also warned that conditions may be difficult on the N11 and the N237, advising motorists to keep to departmental and local roads.

A blockade is also being put in place in front of the RTCR depot in Lagord, meaning that Yélo buses are struggling to operate. There are currently no services running on the 1b, 7a, 8, 16, 11 or 13 line.

Comment: Footage from today's French blockade have been appearing on Twitter:

Translation: Taxi snail operation this morning in Besançon with monster traffic jams to protest against the rise in #carburants prices. #blocage21mars #blocagetotal

And over in Madrid, Spain:

Thousands protest over soaring prices in Spain

Thousands of farmers and hunters marched through Madrid on Sunday in a mass demonstration dubbed "20M Rural," protesting against the government's inability to curb rising prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The agricultural workers, waiving Spanish flags and whistling, marched through the streets accompanied by tractors blowing their horns. The demonstrators were protesting against rising prices on fuel, energy and food, and called on the government to help the sector, to stop speculation, and adopt new laws to regulate supply chains.

"The countryside has come to say 'Enough of the government pimping us and putting the food and work of many people at risk,'" said Pedro Barato, head of the agricultural employers' association ASAJA, adding that if the protesters' demands were not met, it would demonstrate the "irresponsibility" of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

"Today is the start of looking for solutions... Enough is enough, let the head of government stop traveling and start acting," he told journalists during the march.

Official sources estimated that 150,000 people attended the "20M Rural" mass protest in Madrid, which was organized and promoted by Alianza Rural, COAG, ASAJA and other agricultural worker's unions. However, the organizers reported more than 400,000 people took part. The demonstration successfully concluded on Sunday afternoon without incident.

The mass protests were backed by leaders of opposition parties Vox, Partido Popular and Ciudadanos. Santiago Abascal, the president of the far-right Vox party, reportedly demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

A spokesman for Citizens in the Congress of Deputies, Edmundo Bal, hinted that the PM's actions were insulting to agriculture workers.

"He treats us like idiots. And he wants us to believe that Putin is to blame for this situation," he claimed, as quoted by the Spanish news outlet Vozpopuli.

Indeed. Biden & Co also want the American people to believe that Putin is to blame, despite prices rising continuously since Biden got into office. That said, US sanctions have exacerbated the crisis, but the West only has itself to blame; even now, Russia continues to send gas and oil to the West as per any contracts.

The unprecedented economic sanctions were imposed on Russia by the international community in retaliation for the country's attack on neighboring Ukraine in late February. The sanctions included such measures as asset freezes affecting an extended list of Russian officials and businessmen, as well as the closure of airspace over most European countries and curbs on exports and imports of certain goods, raw materials and energy sources. These sanctions have already had an impact on the global economy, as many countries are now experiencing rising prices on energy, gas and other commodities due to the disruption of supply chains.

And Albania:

Also check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal #26: Globalization vs Nationalism - The Hidden Causes of The Yellow Vest Protests in France