French truckers anti-refugee protest is a washout

A planned anti-refugee protest by French truck drivers has resulted in little more than a minor inconvenience to travellers. The protest in the northern port-town of Calais was organised to demand the closure of ‘the Jungle’, a large refugee camp that has become symbolic of Europe’s on-going migration crisis

Approximately 220 trucks and tractors participated in a slow drive in and around Calais starting from 7am, Monday, while others formed a human chain blocking the main route to the coast. However – in spite of fears for potentially significant disruption – it resulted in little delay to travellers and did not prevent the port from functioning normally.

Protestors held signs reading, ‘My harbour is beautiful, My city is beautiful’, in an effort to show camp residents that they are unwelcome.

‘The Jungle’ is a nickname that has been given to various migrant camps around Calais since the mid-2000s, when the Sangatte refugee reception centre first became overcrowded forcing people to create an informal ‘shanty town’ nearby.

Though previous incarnations of ‘the Jungle’ were forcibly cleared by French authorities, with the support of the British Government, the most recent ‘Jungle’ was reformed more recently in the wake of the large-scale influx of refugees to Europe.

According to a BBC News report from February 2016, ‘Total camp population is disputed – Calais officials say it houses 3,700, while Help Refugees puts it at 5,497’ of which 205 are women, 651 are children and 423 are unaccompanied children. Though some aid groups estimate more than 10,000 residents.

Local and national authorities have clashed on numerous occasions over the existence of the camp, with local government officals often demanding a tougher line. However, earlier this month, France’s Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve told local press that authorities would gradually dismantle the camp and ‘clear’ Calais.

The issue of migration is likely stay at the forefront of French politics, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling to allow ‘burkinis’ on French beaches and in the context of the forthcoming presidential election, wherein the far right wing ‘Front National’ is expected to do well.