Out-of-touch Macron's royal feast as French farmers 'starve Paris'

FRENCH leader Emmanuel Macron sits down to a lavish gala dinner with royalty while protesting French farmers fear for their livelihoods.

- Emily Braeger

Sweden's King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia and daughter Victoria spared no expense at the banquet with France's president and first lady Brigitte at Stockholm Palace.

But 1,000 miles away in Paris, angry farmers choked off motorways in a stand off with the Government over working conditions, income, red tape and green policies.

The farmers say the policies undermine their ability to compete with other countries.

For more than a week, militant farmers have blocked roads with tractors in a bid to "starve Paris" unless the Government acts.

"It's just too much, we're really fed up," said 46-yearold farmer Geraldine Grillon, speaking at a blockade on the A10 highway south of Paris.

Ms Grillon blamed Mr Macron and the EU - where many agricultural rules, and subsidies, are decided for the farmers' troubles.