Faced with low farm-gate prices, stringent environmental regulations and concerns over free trade policies, farmers blocked major motorways across the country, including the crucial A7 between Marseille and Lyon. Crates of produce, allegedly imported, lay strewn across the tarmac, a stark symbol of their frustration.

The protests, which began in the south-west, show no sign of abating. The farmers have vowed to continue until their demands are met, putting Attal under immediate pressure in his first major test since taking office.

In response, Attal convened senior ministers to formulate concrete proposals to address the farmers' concerns. The government is expected to unveil these plans tomorrow in the hope of quelling the unrest, which threatens to disrupt vital supply chains and further strain rural-urban relations. (ILKHA)