The Coordination Rurale union, which is one of the largest unions representing farmers in France, said they would “bring out the pitchforks” if either the new government is headed by a member of the Green or the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party.

The union, seen as being on the right of the political spectrum and which some say has close links to the far right, had already begun calling some smaller-scale demonstrations in southern France.

The local chapter in the Gers département had members gather on Thursday, and called for another demonstration on Friday as the Tour de France passes through.

Around a hundred tractors and 200 activists dressed all in yellow – the color of union – took over a field about 20km from the end of the Tour de France’s 12th stage (the Grand Loop between Aurillac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot).

Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, head of the local chapter, told Huffington Post FR that he was “very disappointed with the result of the elections”, which saw the left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire take home the largest share of seats in parliament.

They were followed by Macron’s centrist alliance and the far-right Rassemblement National party in third place. No group or party was able to obtain an absolute majority.

READ MORE: Is France facing a summer of political chaos and unrest?

“The absolute worst for us would be to have Marine Tondelier [head of the Green party] as a minister in government, or another ‘sham’ minister of ecology or agriculture”, Bousquet-Cassagne, who helped lead several months of protests and road blockades during the winter 2024 to push for fair prices and against burdensome rules, told the French press. 

“They won’t go over our heads, we’ll have to bring out the pitchforks, not the tractors (…) La France Insoumise’s agricultural programme is the pure and simple murder of French agriculture. We won’t let ourselves die like that.

“We would have preferred the RN to be in power, because we have never tried them. But given the situation, we prefer Attal, for a simple reason: he is afraid of us,” the union leader said.

Prime minister Gabriel Attal offered his resignation to Macron the day after the elections but Macron asked him to stay on until a new government could be created. So he remains in post, and all the ministers remain in post – and therefore could take decisions in case of emergency.

This is, however, only a temporary solution and a new government will need to be created sooner or later.

READ MORE: ‘Build a solid majority’: Macron addresses the French in post-election letter

On the other side of the spectrum, France’s CGT Cheminots, the largest union representing railway workers, called for demonstrations across France, as well as near the Assemblée Nationale in Paris, to push for the left-wing coalition, Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), being able to form a government.

The rallies, to take place on Thursday, July 18th, would be to encourage “respect for the result of the vote”, after the NFP won the largest share of seats in France’s snap parliamentary elections.

The union has called on local chapters to organise rallies in front of local préfectures, as well as near parliament. 

The press release does not explicitly call for any work stoppages or strikes, but it is possible that some workers may walk out on July 18th. 

There have been other calls for demonstrations among the political left in France, including the former left-wing MP, Adrien Quatennens, who has pushed for a march toward the prime minister’s residence, Matignon – although party leaders disavowed his call.