A growing protest led by French farmers is turning parts of rural France into a stronghold of dissent against President Emmanuel Macron. Known for their bright yellow hats, members of the Coordination Rurale Union are gaining attention—and power—across the country.
Farmers Celebrate a Big Win
This month, hundreds of farmers gathered to celebrate a major win. The Coordination Rurale Union achieved a historic victory in the February farming union elections. For the first time, they broke the dominance of the traditional farming union, FNSEA, which had long represented French farmers both at home and in Brussels.
Aggressive Protests Grab Headlines
According to Politico, the yellow-hatted group played a leading role in the recent wave of farmers’ protests. Their actions outshined those of the FNSEA. Protesters clashed with President Macron, dumped manure outside government buildings, and staged other bold demonstrations.
However, critics have raised concerns. Some rivals accuse the group of using fear-based tactics. They say the protests have crossed a line into intimidation.
Roots of the Movement and Links to the Far Right
The Coordination Rurale Union was born near Auch, a town in southwestern France close to the Spanish border. Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, a key figure in the movement, has faced the courts about 17 times for acts like vandalizing supermarkets and building illegal irrigation basins.
“In this country, if you don’t burn cars you don’t get acknowledged,” he told Politico.
Bousquet-Cassagne has strong ties to the far-right political party National Rally. He once called its leader, Jordan Bardella, “their last hope.” This close relationship has fueled speculation that the protest movement is being backed by Marine Le Pen’s party.
The overall farmers’ unrest has also caused a political shift in rural areas, with many now leaning toward the far right.
Rural France Turns to Marine Le Pen
After gaining support in France’s industrial areas, the National Rally is now finding new strength in the countryside. The party blames mainstream politicians for failing farmers. They also accuse the EU of allowing cheap and low-quality imports to flood the market.
A Reconquête poll, conducted ahead of the 2023 European elections by Cevipof and INP Ensat, found that 62% of Yellow Hat farmers strongly support nationalist parties.
In areas like Gers, where Auch is located, both the Yellow Hat movement and Le Pen’s party are rapidly growing. In the 2023 snap elections, National Rally received 35% of the vote in that region—15 points more than just two years before. This is significant in a place that used to favor Social Democrats.
A Challenge for Macron, a Boost for Le Pen
In just a year, the Yellow Hat movement has turned into a major force in rural politics. It has become a powerful ally for Marine Le Pen and a serious political challenge for President Macron.
